Two suspected attackers were killed in a dramatic security operation near a Catholic shrine in Kampala, Uganda, just hours before thousands gathered for Martyrs’ Day commemorations.
According to Uganda’s military, the incident occurred in the Munyonyo suburb on Tuesday, when security operatives intercepted “two armed terrorists” traveling on a motorcycle.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke reportedly said the pair, a man and a woman, died during the confrontation.
“The female passenger appeared to explode as a group of security forces tracking the duo drew near the suspects,” Rusoke stated. He added that an investigation is ongoing but did not offer additional details.
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The failed attack unfolded on a national holiday honoring Ugandan Christian martyrs who were executed between 1885 and 1887 under the orders of a traditional king.
While the primary shrine site is located elsewhere near Kampala, Munyonyo itself holds religious significance tied to the annual pilgrimage. President Yoweri Museveni and other officials had gathered nearby for a memorial mass.
Though such incidents are uncommon in Uganda, authorities have previously warned of potential plots by extremist groups hostile to Museveni’s administration.
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