Female Martyr’s Day Suicide Bomber Identified

The army has identified the suspected suicide bomber who died in an explosion in Munyonyo.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday near Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine, where thousands of pilgrims had gathered for the religious commemoration. 

Two people, a man and a woman who were carrying explosive material on a motorcycle, died when the explosive detonated prematurely. Addressing the media in Mbuya on Tuesday, Col. Chris Magezi, the UPDF Director of Defence Public Information, identified the female bomber as Aisha Katushabe, also known as Sumayah Byaruhanga or Kabonesa.

Magezi also said that the bomber was the daughter of Abdul Shakuru, who blew himself up in 2021 at the Central Police Station- CPS, and the widow of one of the ADF suspects who was killed after plotting to kill mourners at the funeral of the former Deputy IGP Paul Loketch. 

According to Magezi, intelligence had obtained information that there were plans to attack worshippers and pilgrims on Martyrs Day and that two days ago, the army had arrested a suspect who is in custody.

The suspect was found with laptops and ammunition. Magezi also said that the motorcycle that was carrying the suicide bomber was registered in the name of Yusuf Musana.