Suicide bomber killed in Uganda's capital: Army
Two people who the Ugandan army describe as 'armed terrorists' have been killed in the capital, Kampala, as the country marks Martyrs Day - a Christian celebration to commemorate the faithful who died in the 19th Century. A counter-terrorism unit 'intercepted and neutralized' the two, one of whom was a female suicide bomber, in the upmarket suburb of Munyonyo, army spokesperson Chris Magezi said.
The incident took place near the Roman Catholic Munyonyo Martyrs' Shrine, where a group had gathered to pray, local media reported. Reports also cited an explosion, with an eyewitness telling Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper that the blast occurred as the two approached the church on a motorcycle. The army spokesperson did not confirm the blast, but added that the authorities were on 'heightened alert'.
One of those killed was a female 'suicide bomber laden with powerful explosives', Col Magezi said in a post on X. Footage from Uganda's NBS Television showed security and forensics personnel at the scene of the incident, after having sealed off the area. Col Magezi told Reuters that it was believed the two people were linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) group. (Agencies)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
B-2 bombers moving to Guam amid Middle East tensions
Agencies WASHINGTON The United States is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump weighs whether the United States should take part in Israel's strikes against Iran. It was unclear whether the bomber deployment is tied to Middle East tensions. The B-2 can be equipped to carry America's 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program, including Fordow. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to disclose any further details. One official said no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. They did not say how many B-2 bombers are being moved. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Experts and officials are closely watching to see whether the B-2 bombers will move forward to a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Experts say that Diego Garcia is in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East. The United States had B-2 bombers on Diego Garcia up until last month, when they were replaced with B-52 bombers. Trump has said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel's side, enough time 'to see whether or not people come to their senses,' he said. Reuters reported this week the movement of a large number of tanker aircraft to Europe and other military assets to the Middle East, including the deployment of more fighter jets. An aircraft carrier in the Indo-Pacific is also heading to the Middle East.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
A Spiritual Journey in Qatar: Archbishop Makarios Bids Farewell After 21 Years of Service
Ashraf Siddiqui After more than two decades of dedicated spiritual leadership in Qatar, Archbishop Makarios of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has stepped down from his post, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the country's religious and interfaith history. Talking exclusively to Qatar Tribune recently on the eve of his departure from Doha,Archbishop Makarios told that he landed in Qatar in 2003, and has served as the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Qatar for 21 years. During his tenure, he witnessed and contributed to the profound transformation of both Qatar as a nation and its Christian expatriate community. Reflecting on his time, he described Doha's dramatic evolution—from a modest city of around 600,000 inhabitants to a thriving metropolis with world-class infrastructure, dynamic interfaith relations, and a flourishing expatriate community. Refreshing his memories, when the Archbishop first arrived, worship services were held in schools, hotels, and makeshift locations. It wasn't until 2005 that the Father Amir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, then Amir of State of Qatar, allocated a dedicated plot of land in the Msheireb area for officially recognised Christian denominations. This move, Archbishop Makarios emphasised, was a turning point. It enabled the construction of purpose-built churches and formalised the presence of Christianity in Qatar. Over the years, Archbishop Makarios became a leading figure in interfaith dialogue. He played an instrumental role in establishing the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) around 2007–2008, and remained an active participant in its annual conferences and roundtable discussions. These platforms brought together representatives of diverse faiths—Muslims, Christians, and others—to foster mutual understanding and respect in a multicultural society. His church community was equally diverse. Services were conducted in six languages—Greek, Arabic, English, Russian, Romanian, and Serbian—serving congregants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He noted that this multiethnic, multilingual environment not only enriched the religious fabric of Qatar, but also broadened his personal and spiritual horizons. Born in Greece and raised in Jerusalem from the age of 12, Archbishop Makarios pursued theological studies in Jerusalem, Serbia, and Jordan. Prior to his assignment in Qatar, he served as a priest in Gaza and various Jordanian cities, where he also learned Arabic. His journey as a spiritual leader was marked by deep immersion in local cultures and languages, enabling him to connect authentically with people across borders. Looking back, Archbishop Makarios described his experience in Qatar as one of the most fruitful periods of his life. As he prepares to take on a new role as Metropolitan of Acre in northern Israel, Archbishop Makarios said he will carry the memories and friendships formed in Qatar with him. Though his official duties will shift, he intends to maintain ties with Qatar, a place he now considers a second home. His departure marks not just the end of an era, but a legacy of faith, diplomacy, and cultural bridge-building that will continue to resonate in Qatar's vibrant religious landscape. Incoming Archbishop Aristovoulos of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate has served in various significant locations throughout the Holy Land, including as a conductor at the Holy Sepulchre. He has ministered in Beyjala near Bethlehem, as well as in Madaba, Jordan. Prior to his current appointment, he was entrusted with the pastoral care of all Russian-speaking communities within the Patriarchate.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Israel attacks Iran's Arak reactor as Iranian missile hits hospital
Agencies Tehran/ Tel Aviv An Iranian missile barrage has struck several sites across Israel, damaging a hospital in the country's south, and Israel has attacked Iran's Arak heavy water nuclear reactor as the two countries trade fire for a seventh consecutive day. At least 240 people were wounded in the Iranian attacks, including four seriously, according to Israel's Ministry of Health. The majority were lightly wounded, including 70 at the Soroka Medical Center in the city of Beersheba in southern Israel. Iran said it was targeting a military site in that attack. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the missile attack hit an Israeli military and intelligence centre located near Soroka hospital, causing only 'superficial damage to a small section' of the health facility. Iranian projectiles also made impacts in at least six other locations, including in Tel Aviv and two of its districts – Holon and Ramat Gan, according to local media reports. The Israeli army said its fighter jets struck dozens of sites in Iran, including Natanz and the heavy water nuclear reactor, which was originally called Arak and is now named Khondab. The military said it specifically targeted 'the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production'. Iranian media reported air defences were activated in the area of the Khondab nuclear facility and two projectiles hit an area close to it. Officials told Iranian state TV that evacuations were made before the strikes and no risk of radiation or casualties was detected. There was no mention of any damage. An Israeli military spokesperson later said that fighter jets had struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant located on Iran's Gulf coast, the Reuters news agency reported. But an Israeli military official later said the statement was 'a mistake' and said he could not confirm or deny if the facility had been targeted. The escalation comes after Israel launched a major attack on Iranian military facilities and nuclear sites last Friday, killing senior military officials and top nuclear scientists. Iran responded to that attack by launching waves of missiles at targets in Israel, although most have been shot down by Israel's multitiered air defences. The conflict has quickly widened this week with both countries striking one another. The Soroka Medical Center, which has more than 1,000 beds and provides services to about one million residents of southern Israel, said in a statement there was 'extensive damage' in several areas of the hospital and the emergency room was treating several minor injuries. The hospital was closed to all new patients except for life-threatening cases. Many hospitals in Israel have activated emergency plans in the past week, converting underground parking to hospital floors and moving patients underground, especially those who are on ventilators or are difficult to move quickly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iranian leaders they would pay 'a heavy price' for the attack, and Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to eliminate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'Such a person is forbidden to exist,' Katz said in a statement cited by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The Iranian news agency IRNA said the 'main target' of the Beersheba attack 'was the large [Israeli army] Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park'. The facility is next to the Soroka Medical Center, it said, claiming the health facility suffered only minor damage from the shockwave resulting from the missile strike. Tight military censorship in Israel means information about sites such as military and intelligence facilities is not released to the public. According to Israeli media reports, a building next to the hospital described as 'sensitive' sustained heavy damage. Iranian state TV, meanwhile, reported the attack on the Arak site, saying there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever'. A Washington, DC-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran in the past week of air strikes and more than 1,300 have been wounded. Iran has fired about 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, killing at least 24 people and wounding hundreds.
