Bomb Squad Joins Probe into Fake Terror Attacks

As the investigations into the alleged fake bombs planted in Kampala, Wakiso and other parts of the country intensify the police bomb squad and ICT directorate have been brought on board.

The board of inquiry set up by Chief of Defence Forces –CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, comprising Deputy CDF Lt Gen Sam Okiding, Inspector General of Police –IGP Abas Byakagaba, CID director Maj Tom Magambo and others, have invited the Bomb Squad to provide details of the kind of bombs that they collected or detonated at different scenes.

Among those implicated in the fake bomb plots are top commanders at Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), ,

Sources have revealed that the police bomb squad under the directorate of Counter-Terrorism, headed by AIGP David Wasswa, has presented information on 11 bomb scenes in Kampala, Wakiso and Luweero district spanning a period of years.

“The police squad first gave details of the recent bombs in Munyonyo and Kaleerwe, but the CDF demanded that the probe be extended to three years back. The Bomb Squad is expected to provide information on all the bomb incidents from 2023 to date,” sources said.

So far, 13 suspects, including former DIS commander, Maj Gen James Birungi, Col Peter Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Byaruhanga, as well as two civilians identified as Walusana and Hamza, have been arrested. The rest are junior soldiers who acted on orders of their commanders. 

The suspects have been interrogated and their statements recorded by police detectives drawn from CID headquarters at Kibuli and Kampala metropolitan headquarters at Kampala Central Police Station.

Sources said the police’s ICT directorate, headed by Felix Baryamwisaki, has been requested to provide Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera footage showing the movements of the suspected suicide bombers, mostly those killed at Munyonyo and Kaleerwe.

“The alleged suicide bombers at Munyonyo and Kaleerwe were killed during the day. The importance of the ICT directorate is to provide camera evidence showing how these alleged terrorists picked the motorcycles that took them to the scenes where they died,” sources said.

It is alleged that the civilians already in military custody helped the two females killed in the June bombs pick the motorcycles. The civilians helped the CDF probe team identify the junior soldiers, who were their contacts, and the soldiers also revealed the names of their commanders, hence leading to the arrest of the top CMI echelons. 

Although Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Defence Public Information Officer (DPIO), confirmed Maj Gen Birungi’s arrest and interrogation, he has remained cagey on revealing information regarding the progress of the investigations. “Yes, the General was summoned and is being interrogated, but that is not for the public. When I am summoned by my institution, you let the institution do its work,” Maj Gen Kulayigye said.

The fake bomb scenes the CDF’s probe team has focused on include the June 3rd this year, on Martyrs Day near Munyonyo Catholic shrines, where Aisha Katushabe and a motorcycle rider died when the bomb exploded. The June 23, 2025, bomb at Kalwere, where a female suspected bomber was shot dead, but the motorcyclists survived unhurt and have not been arrested. However, the police bomb squad detonated the Kalerwe bomb.

The September 4, 2023, bombs found at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s church led to the arrest of Ibrahim Kintu, whose whereabouts remain unknown. On the same day, two bombs were detonated at Mabiito Business Centre. On September 5, 2023, four bombs were discovered abandoned in an old house in Bunamwaya, Wakiso district.

On May 4, 2024, four bombs were found abandoned in a house at the Kwata zone, in Komamboga, and they were detonated by the police bomb squad. On September 27, 2023, 10 bombs were found abandoned in a school playground, Wobulenzi Town Council, Luweero district. 

In total, sources have said the CDF team is investigating 27 suspicious bombs and more civilians are being traced as accomplices.