MWE Correspondent
In a swift counter-terrorism operation Tuesday morning, two suspected terrorists — including a woman believed to be wearing a suicide vest — were killed in an explosion just outside the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine, a prominent Catholic pilgrimage site in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
The attack came at a time of heightened security ahead of Martyrs Day, Uganda’s largest annual religious gathering, which takes place every June 3 to commemorate the execution of 45 young Christian converts in the late 1800s.
Eyewitnesses said a man and a woman were riding a motorcycle towards the church compound during early morning hours, when the explosion occurred mid-route. A small group of worshippers had already gathered for prayers.
“It was sudden — a loud bang, and smoke everywhere,” said local resident James Lule. “People panicked. We didn’t know if more explosions would follow.”
Ugandan security officials later confirmed the explosion was not accidental, but rather a result of an intelligence-led counter-terrorism raid.
Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), stated: “A counter-terrorism team intercepted and neutralized two terrorists. One of them, a female, was carrying powerful explosives intended for a suicide bombing mission targeting the Martyrs Shrine.”
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He added that the operation was part of broader security strategies to secure all pilgrimage and worship zones during the Martyrs Day celebrations, which attract millions of attendees from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and beyond.
The Uganda Martyrs, whose deaths in the 1880s sparked global attention, are honored at multiple shrines including Namugongo and Munyonyo. Pope Francis visited the Munyonyo shrine in 2015 during his African tour, further raising its profile.
The suspects’ identities have not yet been officially released, and no group has claimed responsibility. However, authorities are investigating potential links to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel group affiliated with ISIS, which has carried out previous bombings in Uganda.
In recent years, Uganda has increasingly faced threats from radicalized groups operating both within its borders and from neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the ADF maintains training camps.
Despite the tension, pilgrims remained undeterred. Many continued arriving on foot, by vehicle, and in organized groups, as police and UPDF forces maintained heavy security across the Kampala area.
“This only strengthens our faith,” said Angela Nakato, who walked from Mbarara for over a week. “The martyrs gave their lives — we cannot let fear stop us from honoring them.”
Authorities have called for public cooperation, asking Ugandans to report any suspicious activity immediately to security agencies.
