Scores have been reported injured and at least one has been confirmed dead after two explosions went off near Uganda’s Parliament building in the capital Kampala.
The twin explosions went off around 10am on Tuesday November 16th in downtown Kampala, the blasts happened minutes apart.
The two explosions were reported at Kooki towers, opposite Central Police Station in Kampala and near Parliament building.
Parliament was immediately sealed off by security personnel after the explosion went off, and minutes later another explosion was reported at Kooki towers.
Photos and videos shared on social media showed heavy clouds of smoke and some cars burning near Jubilee Insurance along Parliamentary Avenue.
Two explosions have been reported at Kooki towers, opposite Central Police Station in Uganda's capital Kampala and near Parliament.
Cars filmed burning after the explosion along Parliament Avenue, @DailyMonitor reporting.
— Kennedy Wandera (@VOA_Wandera) November 16, 2021
I heard the first explosion while on air. I asked my guest if he had heard the earthquake. It was too strong. Minutes later, my producer texted: "We've breaking news. 2 explosions in Kampala." My intestines started to shake. I remembered my daughters were coming to town. Be safe pic.twitter.com/0bD4uFcckw
— Faridah Nakazibwe (@fsnakazibwe) November 16, 2021
Pray for our brothers in Kampala Uganda pic.twitter.com/PwV6I7JoYW
— Brian Khaniri (@BKhaniri) November 16, 2021
JUST IN : SUSPECTED BOMB EXPLOSION HAS HAPPENED AT CENTRAL POLICE STATION AND PARLIAMENTARY AVENUE IN KAMPALA CENTRAL BUSSINESS DISTRICT.
DETAILS COMING UP#VenusMedia pic.twitter.com/isEAt1q3s7
— VENUS FM (@VENUSFM1) November 16, 2021
Kampala Central mayor Salim Uhuru while speaking to the press confirmed that a friend of his had died in the explosion.
I can confirm that a friend of mine called Katongole has died in this explosion – Salim Uhuru, Mayor Kampala Central. #NTVNews | https://t.co/ttnOO1ye3P pic.twitter.com/C7CZk2aiY5
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) November 16, 2021
The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed by Ugandan authorities, some photos on social media show police and Red Cross helping victims.
.@PoliceUg and Red Cross officials attending to one of the people who were injured in an explosion at Parliamentary Avenue, in Kampala city on November 16, 2021.#MonitorUpdates
? David Lubowa pic.twitter.com/U0lAo8Jstd— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) November 16, 2021
Reported explosions in Kampala around jubilee house and CPS police station.
Photos from the scene so far !! pic.twitter.com/TuGwSdVHJT
— Lawel Shelby (@Lawel_muhwezi) November 16, 2021
A suspected Bomb blast at the Parliament avenue near the IGGs office opposite the constitutional Affairs Ministry in Kampala.
One person is confirmed dead as body parts at the scene indicate pic.twitter.com/j9ZypGMvty— Muke Chrys (@chrys_muke) November 16, 2021
The Tuesday November 16th explosion is the third blast to happen in Uganda in a month. The first explosion happened on October 23rd 2021.
The October 23rd explosion which occurred in Kampala killed one person and injured three others, police called it an act of domestic terror and for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
On October 26th, another explosion went off on a long-distance bus killing one person and injuring several others, it happened less than 48 hours after the blast in Kampala.
The bus was traveling from the capital Kampala to the western part of Uganda. The incident was confirmed as a suicide bomb attack where the attacker died in the explosion.
Ugandan police said that the bomber was on the wanted list of members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The feared ADF, historically a Ugandan rebel group, has been accused of killing thousands of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In March the United States officially linked the ADF to the Islamic State group.
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