Ugandan police said on Tuesday they would shut down public places that have not implemented anti-terrorism guidelines, warning that there was a possibility of more attacks against civilian targets.
Uganda is particularly concerned about al-Shabaab, a radical Islamist group from Somalia which carried out twin bombings that killed 76 football fans in Kampala in July.
“We are going to close these places because the al-Shabaab has warned it will attack again,” said Iddi Senkumbi, a police spokesperson for the capital, referring to institutions without adequate security measures.
He said proprietors had implemented the safeguard measures following the July attacks, but adherence has slipped during the months since.
“They implemented them but they have relaxed,” Senkumbi said.
Anti-terrorism measures include check-points with security guards and bomb screening machines at entrances to supermarkets, bus stations, bars and hotels.
Al-Shabaab reacts
Al-Shabaab, currently locked in a battle with the transitional government in Somalia, which is backed by African Union (AU) troops, is angry with Uganda for deploying peacekeeping troops to the war-torn country on the horn of Africa.
Militants have claimed the Kampala attack was designed to punish Uganda for deploying hundreds of peace-keeping troops in Somalia.
Since July, 34 suspects of various nationalities have been charged with terrorism, murder and attempted murder in connection with the attack.
Al-Shabaab, which is said to have links to the global terrorist network al-Qaeda, last week warned that they would again strike targets within Uganda and Burundi, which has also deployed troops to Somalia with the AU forces. – Sapa-DPA