There was panic at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on Martyrs Day Wednesday following the discovery of a suspicious object that looked like a bomb near the health facility.
The item was found hidden at the main gate of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital by unknown persons.
Dozens of people abandoned their shops and patients abandoned their hospital beds with fear that the unknown oval chocolate brown item which they mistook for an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) may claim their precious lives on Martyrs’ Day.
With 2010 Al Shabab attack during the last World Cup final screening that left 74 people dead and scores injured in Kampala still fresh in everyone’s mind, no one wanted to be the next victim.
However, the material was later discovered to be a curtain end after police in a joint operation with army combat engineering brigade scrutinized it.
But Mr Martin Okoyo, the Gulu District Police Commander (DPC) while addressing the press thanked the residents for being vigilant.
Mr Okoyo said, “Security is a collective responsibility. Residents should report any suspicious object or person to the security officials so that dangers are averted.”
In September last year, police said Somalis based Al- Shaab terrorist group is one of the major threats to the country’s security.
During a recent press briefing at Northern Uganda Media Club (Numec) centre in Gulu town, Mr Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police Spokesperson said as Uganda tries to involve itself in trying to promote peace within the region, the country faces constant threat from terrorists.
Mr Enanga added that with the involvement of Uganda in countries such as Somalia, the Central African Republic (CAR) and recently in South Sudan, Al Shabaab terror group have been trying to attack the country.
According to Enanga, following threats, there has been increased intelligent sharing between Uganda and other regional security agencies, tightening of entry into and out of the country and increased vigilance as the Uganda fight off attacks from terror groups.
Police cites heightened security during Namugongo Shrine and World Cup as one of the many successes of security triumph over terrorist attacks.
Kenya has however paid heavy price after its troops set foot in Somalia to pursue the US blacklisted terrorist’s group.
