2 men arrested with explosives
What you need to know:
- The suspects are still in detention as explosive experts continue to establish where the recovered items were brought from and the intended purpose.
Police have arrested two men and are hunting others after they intercepted a vehicle that was carrying explosives in Kampala City.
The officers recovered two boxes containing explosives and other items in a Toyota Premio, which had an unlicensed number plate at Katwe, Rubaga Division.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesman Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrest of the suspects.
“Our team intercepted a driver in a car which had unlicensed number plates at around 4am on Sunday. When they searched the vehicle, they found explosives. The driver was arrested and the car was impounded. The driver has led us to another person, who has been detained,” Mr Onyango said.
The suspects are still in detention as explosive experts continue to establish where the recovered items were brought from and the intended purpose.
Mr Onyango further cautioned that for explosives used in mining, the police are supposed to carry them from one destination to the mining centre, and they have to be transported with documents from authorities.
With previous bomb attacks in the country that have left more than six people dead and terror alerts issued by the United Kingdom and the United States, the Uganda security agencies are very cautious about any type of explosives .
Last month, police arrested a man who was allegedly having explosives at a hostel near Kyambogo University. Police spokesman Fred Enanga said the suspect will be charged with illegal possession of explosives.
The government presented the Explosives Bill 2023 in Parliament, which has punitive penalties such as a fine of Shs10b or life imprisonment for anyone found in possession or manufacturing explosives illegally.
The penalties are tougher than those in the Explosive Act of 1936, which punishes the convicted person with a jail term of six months or a fine of Shs2,000.
