Kenyan authorities have arrested nine Ugandans claiming to be Muslim evangelists in the coastal town of Malindi, Kenya as the two countries start sharing intelligence against terrorism.
The visas of the nine Ugandans have been cancelled and the group will be deported, Deputy Officer Commanding Police Division, Kilifi, Maurice Musonye said yesterday. “After interrogation, we suspected that they may have a different mission in the country and we feared accepting their claims and releasing them may result into trouble,” Mr Musonye said.
The same group claimed responsibility for the July 11, 2010 twin bombings in Kampala which killed at least 78 people and injured dozens others at Kyadondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopia Village Restaurant in Kabalagala. Uganda security has started sharing intelligence with their Kenyan counterparts following the terror attacks in Nairobi.
Security in Kenya and Uganda is at its highest following terror attacks that have left one person dead and scores injured in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. The attacks are suspected to have been carried out by Somalia al-Shabaab insurgents whom the Kenyan government is pursuing.
The Counter Terrorism Director, Mr Abas Byakagaba, said they are coordinating with the Kenyan security to see that the region is safe from terrorists.
“The terrorism threats have no borders. We are also on alert. We are coordinating through information sharing,” Mr Byakagaba said yesterday.
“The terrorism threats have no borders. We are also on alert. We are coordinating through information sharing,” Mr Byakagaba said yesterday.
Security check
He added that the route from Mombasa, Nairobi and Kampala to Kigali should be safe because any threat at any of the points will directly affect all countries in the region. Intelligence sharing on terrorism between the East African countries had been fragile until the attacks in Nairobi. Army Spokesman Felix Kulayigye said they are coordinating with police, immigration and security agencies from neighbouring countries to monitor wrong elements that may enter the country.
He added that the route from Mombasa, Nairobi and Kampala to Kigali should be safe because any threat at any of the points will directly affect all countries in the region. Intelligence sharing on terrorism between the East African countries had been fragile until the attacks in Nairobi. Army Spokesman Felix Kulayigye said they are coordinating with police, immigration and security agencies from neighbouring countries to monitor wrong elements that may enter the country.
He urged the population to be extra vigilant: “We ought to be more alert than before. Watch your neighbour and other suspicious objects. We know terrorists want to show they are still around and also want publicity when they carry out terrorist attacks,” Col. Kulayigye said.
abagala@ug.nationmedia.com
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