NAIROBI, (Reuters) – The United States warned its citizens in Uganda today about a “specific threat” of an attack on Entebbe International Airport, which is near the capital Kampala, according to a message on the U.S. Embassy website.
It said information from Uganda’s police indicated that the attack could take place between 9 p.m and 11 p.m. (1800 GMT and 2000 GMT) on Thursday, adding that citizens planning to travel at that time might consider reviewing their arrangements.
A spokesman for Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, Ignie Ugundura, confirmed the authority had issued an alert on Wednesday that “informed the airport community”, but did not give details.
“The U.S. Embassy has received information from the Uganda Police Force (UPF) that according to intelligence sources there is a specific threat to attack Entebbe International Airport by an unknown terrorist group today, July 3, between the hours of 2100-2300,” the embassy message said.
The U.S. Embassy has issued other alerts during the year about possible attacks in Uganda, which it says faces a “continued threat”.
Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamist group carried out an attack on a Nairobi shopping mall in neighbouring Kenya last year and in 2010 bombed sports bars in Uganda where people were watching the World Cup final at that time. Dozens were killed in both places.
Al Shabaab has recently warned of more attacks in Uganda and other countries which contribute forces to an African Union peacekeeping mission that is battling the Islamist group in Somalia.
