KAMPALA, Uganda – A powerful explosion near the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine in Kampala early Tuesday morning killed two suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), including a female suicide bomber, Ugandan authorities confirmed. The incident occurred as thousands gathered to commemorate Martyrs’ Day, a key event in Uganda’s Christian calendar.
According to Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson Chris Magezi, the suspects were intercepted by a counter-terrorism unit in the upscale suburb of Munyonyo before they could carry out a possible attack. “The operation neutralized two armed terrorists,” Magezi said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that one of the individuals was a female bomber “laden with powerful explosives.”
Police chief Abas Byakagaba told local broadcaster NBS that the suspects were riding a motorcycle at the time of the explosion. “The good thing is that there were no people nearby who were injured,” he said. No civilian casualties were reported.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, but the assailants are suspected to be linked to the ADF, a militant group originally based in western Uganda and now operating out of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), has been blamed for a series of deadly attacks across the region, including multiple bombings in Uganda in 2021.
Martyrs’ Day commemorates the execution of dozens of Christian converts in the late 19th century under the orders of Buganda King Mwanga II. The shrine in Munyonyo is one of Uganda’s most revered religious sites, drawing pilgrims from across the country and beyond.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke had yet to issue an official comment by press time.
Security across Kampala remains tight as investigations continue.
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