{UAH} EXCLUSIVE: UCU Targeted by Al Shabaab Terrorists

EXCLUSIVE: UCU Targeted by Al Shabaab Terrorists

14 hours ago3194 ViewedGiles MuhameBe the First to Comment

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Uganda Christian University

The Al Shabaab terrorists are planning a heavy attack on Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono off Kampala-Jinja road, ChimpReports exclusively reports.

The area police station has been beefed up with intelligence and counter-terrorism personnel to protect the institution from falling into the hands of the Islamist militants.

On Friday afternoon, a squad of over 40 anti-terrorism officers who were armed to the teeth, were deployed in and out of the campus, which describes itself as the 'centre of excellence in the heart of Africa.'

"UCU is being guarded by police with the support of other security agencies. It is being targeted because it's a Christian school," said a highly placed security officer on Saturday morning.

The latest report comes just a day after Police boss, Gen Kayihura warned that a school along Jinja road is being targeted for destruction by terrorists.

"We have received intelligence information that Al Shabaab are planning an attack on a Ugandan school along the Kampala-Jinja Highway," Kayihura told journalists on Friday evening during an urgent press briefing in Kampala.

"We can't take this information lightly and we are working closely with universities, secondary and primary schools to ensure students are safe but we think this should not be limited to schools in Kampala only but throughout the country."

While security at schools has been reinforced, the largest deployment is at UCU.

Sources said Kayihura is aware about the plot to attack UCU but that he did not want to create anxiety among students at the campus and their parents.

Al Shabaab fighters on Thursday morning raided Garissa University College in North Eastern Kenya, killing at least 147 students. Muslim students were spared by the militants.

The horrific attack has since sent shockwaves across East Africa.

UCU was founded when the historic Bishop Tucker Theological College was promoted as a university in 1997.

The College trained clergy and educators during its 84-year history from 1913-1997. The local chief, Hamu Mukasa, granted land for the college to operate in Mukono.

The Church Mission Society teamed with Ugandan leaders and others to assure the College had the necessary intellectual and other capital.

By the late 1990s, the Church of Uganda sought to have a broader impact on society through the higher education – not only of clergy but of other professionals as well thus the creation of UCU.

The institution is still run on Christian principles, making it a legitimate targeted for attacks by radical Islamic groups.

Administrators told this website today that the better part of staff left university  for the Easter holiday and that this semester has very few students.

"There is too much security, I don't think terrorists will go ahead and attack. May be their plans have been discovered by security," said an administrator who preferred anonymity so as to speak freely.

Gen Kayihura has since called for vigilance in defeating terrorism.

"In fact if we had an active and vigilant crime prevention system in Kiwatule, the murder of Joan Kagezi wouldn't have happened. It was still day time and the people around ought to have noticed and either prevented or at least arrested the killers," the IGP noted.

Traffic

Meanwhile, police have heightened security in public places especially nightclubs, shopping malls, hospitals, ministries among others.

Kayihura said he has directed traffic police to ensure they do away with traffic jam during the festive season through creating diversion routes, adding that check points are to be stationed in different places along the highways.

On the attacks in Northern Kenya, the Ugandan police chief observed: "The lessons we learnt from the incident include becoming more vigilant because it's the same group of insurgents threatening us otherwise our Kenyan counterparts are not to blame for the attacks."

Kayihura urged places of worship including churches, mosques; commercial and entertaining places to be security cautious during the festive season.

"Together with sister security agencies we shall carryout operations, deployment and patrols in a bid to strengthen security in all parts of the country," Kayihura urged.

A few weeks ago, the police issued warning on an impending attack by terrorists that was set for March 26.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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