One person has been confirmed dead and scores injured following an explosion in Komamboga, a suburb of Kampala.
Noah Mukasa Sserumaga, one of the area leaders said that the explosion was heard a few minutes to 9:00 pm Saturday at Digida eating point. Moments later, the area was engulfed in smoke and sounds of people crying for help.
“…we do not know whether it was indeed a bomb, but one girl, an employee of the same place is dead. Seven others have been rushed to hospital,” Mukasa said. The deceased has been identified as Emily.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the bomb squad responded to calls from the scene and the casualties have been rushed to Mulago hospital for treatment.
“The blast happened at Digida eating point, Komamboga, in Kawempe Division. One person has been fatally wounded and seven others rushed to Mulago National Referral hospital with serious injuries,” Enanga said in a brief statement.
He added that the scene had been cordoned off, and joint task teams have been called to thoroughly document the scene, to determine whether the explosion arose out of an intentional act or not.
“We ask the public to remain calm, as we establish the true circumstances surrounding the incident,” Enanga added.
However, sources in the counter-terrorism and crime intelligence say that the blast could not have been a bomb blast since there were no flammable materials like gas cylinders.
According to the sources, the blast left behind a huge hole at the centre of where people were seated. “Some fragments have hit people and cars as far as 100 meters,” the source said.
The blast comes after the October 14 United Kingdom warning of a possible terrorist attack in Uganda which police dismissed off.
Source: The Observer