Rebel group claims responsibility for bombing

Rebels of the Uganda National Democratic Force (UNDF) on 29 December claimed responsibility for the recent bomb attack on Makenke barracks in Mbarara, which left two dead. ‘The New Vision’ quoted army spokesman Major Phineas Katirima as saying that it was still difficult to ascertain who was responsible for the attack. He said the rebels’ pronouncement gave an indication that they could be responsible and the UPDF would “hunt them down”. He said, however, that the rebels could be remnants of the former National Resistance Army (NRA) renegade, Major Herbert Itongwa.

He said Captain Stephen Ssekyaya, Itongwa’s deputy who escaped from the UPDF at Lira hospital in September 1999, could be responsible, since Itongwa was believed to be seeking political asylum in Germany. “We wiped out these Itongwa rebels a long time ago while they were still operating from Luwero, but remnants seem to be causing panic,” Katirima said.