The Police in Kampala have arrested a Somali national who was found with an explosive detonator in his vehicle as he tried to access Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo.
According to the Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the detonator was recovered by security guards at the entrance of the hotel in Munyonyo as they carried out security checks on the vehicle as it tried to access the premises.
“The device was discovered by the security as they did a thorough search of the vehicle, a Toyota Wish which was being driven by Abdul Karim Mayowu, a 25 year old Somali national and resident of Lungujja in Lubaga division,” Enanga said.
The police spokesperson said on interrogation, the Somali national said as a special hire driver, he had been hired by one Muhammad Hassan, 28, another Somali national to go pick his mother and siblings from the hotel.
“That is how he drove with this suspected device. We have now arrested the two and also other close associates of the family including 40-year Asili Yasin and 20-year-old Maxbal Masal. The device that he was found with is one that can operate or detonate a given explosive device. We now have a duty to trace backwards for the main component of the suspected explosive device,” Enanga said.
The developments come on the backdrop of twin blasts that hit Kampala last week killing seven people and others sustained injuries.
Security has since blamed the attacks on suicide bombers sent by the Allied Democratic Forces(ADF) terrorist group.
The country has since then increased operations targeting ADF sleeper cells operating in the country.
A total of 106 suspects have so far been arrested in the operations.