Transport and businesses in Gulu Bus Park was on Monday morning paralysed after a dummy bomb was found in the Gulu main bus park causing much panic.
The dummy bomb wrapped in a silver coated metallic tin with a timer attached to it was found at about 9 am by a cleaner near the Lira stage.
According to Fred Ociti, a cab driver who witnessed how the suspicious object was found, a woman who cleans the area discovered a metallic object as she emptied a dustbin.
“We were seated at the Lira stage when the woman found the object. She brought it to us to see what it was only to open it and find a black object wired with a timer. It was also written on it ‘‘Time Bomb,” Ociti said.
Ocitti said they carried the object to the nearby Gulu bus park police post.
Over 450 taxi operators and business persons within the area were evacuated by police as Uganda People’s Defense Forces bomb experts from the 4th Division infantry accompanied the police to ascertain the nature of the bomb.
Dummy Bomb
Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, Jimmy Patrick Okema told Journalists shortly after the bomb was detonated that the suspicious object was a dummy bomb. He said it was not a threat. He called for calm.
“We appeal to the people in the area to be vigilant, report any suspicious objects like they did today to the police to avoid any injuries.’’
Okema said samples from the dummy bomb has been take for testing.
The 4th Division Spokesperson, Capt Ceasar Olweny said the discovery should not be linked to the Al-Shabaab insurgents who have been threatening the country in the past.
“We want to rule out the possibility that this could be related to the Al-Shabaab. We have had two decades of war orchestrated by the LRA in the region and possibilities are that some of the unexploded ordinances are still within our midst,” said Capt Olweny.
He said the army and police are working hand in hand to keep peace and urged people to be vigilant.
“We are warning people to watch out on crowded places like the market, churches, bars and discotheques. These could be potential places where terrorists can launch their attacks on innocent civilians,” Olweny said.
Business paralysed
Mr Stephen Ojara, the Chairperson of Business Community at Gulu Bus park said, the discovery has affected their morale.
“We feel insecure at the moment. We call upon the police to offer for us protection. The traders here are currently panicking,” said Ojara.
In March last year, two inmates at Gulu Central Prison where injured in a grenade explosion at Kaunda play grounds in Gulu Municipality after they unknowingly lit fire to burn rubbish