Ugandan security forces shot and killed two suspected terrorists, including a female suicide bomber, near the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine in Kampala on June 3, during the country’s annual Martyrs Day celebrations—a major Christian pilgrimage event. According to army spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi, a counter-terrorism unit “intercepted and neutralized” the suspects in the upscale suburb of Munyonyo. One suspect was reportedly carrying powerful explosives intended for detonation near the shrine, where a small group had gathered to pray.
Although witnesses reported an explosion near the church, resulting in no civilian casualties, the military did not officially confirm the blast. Footage aired by NBS Television showed security forces and forensic teams sealing off the area for investigation. Authorities believe the two suspects were affiliated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group linked to the Islamic State (IS). The ADF has a history of launching attacks in Uganda, including a 2023 school massacre that killed nearly 40 students.
Col. Magezi noted that national security agencies were on heightened alert, citing prior intelligence that ADF operatives planned to target religious sites and public gatherings. The group has not commented on the incident. Martyrs Day, one of Africa’s largest Christian pilgrimages, honours 45 Ugandan martyrs—22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans—executed between 1885 and 1887 by King Mwanga II of Buganda for refusing to abandon their Christian faith. Millions of worshippers typically travel from across the continent to commemorate the event each year.
