Transport, business paralysed as bomb is found in Gulu Bus Park

Major streets in Gulu town remains cordoned by police and the UPDF as they combed the area in search of more bombs. Photo by Julius Ocungi 

Transport and businesses in the central parts of Gulu Municipality has been paralysed for the better part of the day after a bomb was found at the Gulu main bus park sending residents into panic.
The bomb wrapped in silver coated metallic tin with a timer attached to it was discovered at about 9am by a cleaner in a dustbin near the Lira stage at the eastern part of the Gulu main Bus park entrance.

Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema told journalists in an interview shortly after the bomb was detonated by Uganda People’s Defence Forces bomb experts, that the suspicious object was a dummy bomb.
He said that the dummy bomb, much as it was capable of causing injuries, was not a big threat saying the residents should remain calm and return to their businesses.

Mr Fred Ociti, a taxi driver who witnessed how the suspicious object was found told Daily Monitor in an interview that the woman who cleans the area discovered a metallic object as she was emptying a dustbin at 9am in the morning.
“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 ‘A time Bomb’,” Mr Ociti said.

He added that they later 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 for safety as the UPDF bomb experts from the 4th Division infantry accompanied the police to ascertain the nature of the bomb.
Panic spread through the place as many of the residents could be seen evacuating their premises in the nearby buildings while most of the roads leading to the scene remained sealed off by police.

At about 11 am, a loud explosion was heard, from within the waiting area at the Gulu Main Bus park, adjacent to the Gulu Bus park Police post.
“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 that may arise as explosion,” Mr Okema said.

He said the scene of crime officer has taken samples of the bomb for forensic testing.
No Alshabab related attack
However the Spokesperson, 4th Division infantry barracks, Capt Ceasar Olweny said the discovery of the bomb 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 the police will work hand-in-hand to enable that the suspects who could have had plans to harm people in the region are brought to books.

“We are warning people to watch out on crowded places like the market, churches, bars and discotheques. These could be potential places where terrorists could launch their attacks on innocent civilians,” Col Olweny said.
Security has since remained tight in most part of the municipality as there are looming fears of attacks within the town.

Business paralysed
Mr Stephen Ojara, the Chairperson of Business Community at Gulu Bus park said, the discovery of the bomb has affected the morale of the business community since they fear that more such bombs could be found.
“We are insecure at the moment; we call upon the police to offer for us protection. The traders here are currently panicking,” said Mr 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.

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