On the night of 11 July, three bombs exploded within 75 minutes of each other in two locations in Kampala city, Uganda, killing more than 75 people gathered to enjoy the World Cup final. The first bomb exploded at the the Ethiopian Village restaurant in Kabalaga, but news did not travel fast enough to the Kyadondo rugby club in Lugogo, on the Jinja Road out of town, where two bombs tore through spectators seated in hundreds of white plastic chairs set up on the green before a giant screen.

Somali‐based terrorist group Al-Shabaab has made threats against Uganda in the past, citing Uganda’s involvement in the African Union‐backed AMISOM peacekeeping force in Somalia. Uganda has made the largest single contribution to this mission, its military also having received support and advice from the United States. The main target of the Kampala attack appears to have been ordinary Ugandans going about their daily lives during a global sporting event.

The timing probably also anticipates the presence in Kampala from the 19 to 27 July of the 15th annual summit of the African Union. With heads of state present from all over the continent, in light of recent events, it won’t be a comfortable time for the city’s residents.

“We condemn these callous attacks that have taken advantage of the easygoing and hospitable nature of the Ugandan people,” said Patrick Shah, Managing Director of The Far Horizon, the whl.travel local connection in Uganda. “The bombings probably have nothing to do with Uganda’s past history, but follow the pattern of what has previously happened in Nairobi, New York, London, Bali and Madrid, and are in all likelihood a result of Uganda’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia.”

Uneasy but Stable Times

For the past decade, Kampala, the capital city Uganda, has felt safe. Visitors and residents frequently remark that the downtown area isn’t known for the pervasive petty crime notable in other large African capitals, like Johannesburg and Nairobi. Devastating acts of terrorism were unheard of.

But tensions are somewhat on the rise. Elections planned for 2011 may usher in a period of some domestic political turmoil, adding to other antagonisms (ethnic, regional and political) on many people’s minds, as well as rising friction between conservative Christians and a Muslim community (about 10% of the population).

That being said, despite security forces being on high alert in and around the city, and security at the airport as high as it has ever been in the last few years, shops and businesses around the city continue to operate as normal during the day. As is to be expected, nightclubs, restaurants and bars are seeing much lower levels of patronage at night.

Travellers will be pleased to know that the national parks and lodges outside Kampala are still open and being visited without hindrance. And, for The Far Horizon, the whl.travel local connection in Uganda, all current trips remain unaffected and are continuing as normal. For upcoming trips, itineraries may be adjusted so that clients can avoid spending their first and last nights in Kampala where necessary or requested.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 11:00 pm and is filed under the following categories: