Police have said they have got ‘credible’ intelligence information of a certain group of people who want to plant bombs in the city by hiding behind social media and mobile money tax protests.
On July 1, government introduced a sh200 per day levy on users of social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, Twitter and Viber as well as a one percent levy on mobile money transactions attracting condemnation from the public.
On Monday morning, a group of unknown people threw posters and speakers denouncing the controversial social media and mobile money tax in various points in the city centre before urging the members of the public to unite against the new levies.
Addressing a weekly news conference in Kampala, police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said they had got intelligence information in relation to planting bombs while disguising as protesting against the new taxes.
“We have intelligence information that they want to use such megaphones to plant bombs and put them in various points across the city,”Kayima said.
“Their aim is to hoodwink the public and then plant bombs. Those who will be carried away will face bigger consequences.”
The recordings on the megaphones dropped at Dustur Street and Mabirizi complex on Monday morning were calling upon the members of the public to desist from the ‘unfair’ taxes.
“We pay a lot of money in taxes but there is nothing to show of it. All Ugandans must defy the oppressive taxes,” said the recordings.
The police displayed the megaphones during the weekly press briefing, asking the public to desist from being carried away by the messages.
According to the police publicist, terrorists who in 2010 bombed the country during the World Cup have never rested and are itching to strike again.
“They are not happy we went through the previous World Cup safely. The megaphones are only a bait for a bigger occurrence. The message is irresponsible and is only meant to hoodwink for someone to commit heinous crimes,”Kayima said.
Put to task to explain whether the intelligence information in relation to the matter was credible, Kayima said they are yet to verify it.
“We have not yet known who is behind it but our experts will study the voice to know who is behind it.”
Over 70 people were killed and others sustained injuries following twin blasts at Kyadondo Rugby grounds and Ethiopian village restaurant in Kabalagala while revelers were watching the 2010 World Cup finals.
