The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Tuesday morning June 3rd, thwarted a planned terror attack in Munyonyo, Kampala, killing two suspected terrorists.

The incident occurred just a day before Uganda’s significant Martyrs Day celebrations, which attract millions of pilgrims.

While local authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the suspects, their affiliations, or the specific target, preliminary suspicions indicate the attack aimed to disrupt proceedings ahead of the annual Martyrs Day event.

According to Uganda’s Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi, the UPDF swiftly moved following actionable intelligence.

“A UPDF counter-terrorism unit this morning intercepted and neutralised two armed terrorists in Munyonyo, an upscale city suburb. It was an intelligence-led operation,” Magezi confirmed in a statement on X.

He added that security has been significantly tightened in Munyonyo and key pilgrimage sites in Namugongo, the main venue for the celebrations.

Magezi urged the public to remain vigilant, stating: “Security services are on heightened alert to ensure the Martyrs Day celebrations proceed without disruption. The general public is urged to remain calm but vigilant and report to the security services any suspicious individuals, objects or activities for immediate attention.”

The foiled plot unfolded over 30 kilometres from the main Martyrs Day events in Wakiso District, where over two million people were expected to gather at the Namugongo Catholic and Anglican shrines to commemorate Ugandan Christians executed for their faith in the late 19th century.

Despite the incident, mass and services proceeded without interruption, with President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni attending prayers at the Anglican site in Namugongo.

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