From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Jul 12 2010 - 07:33:57 EDT
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/07/12/uganda.bombings/?fbid=u5F9CZI5VOS
Death
toll rises to 64 in Uganda bombings
By *Faith Karimi*, CNN
July 12, 2010 -- Updated 1039 GMT (1839 HKT)
(CNN) -- The death toll from bombings in Uganda rose to at least 64,
authorities said Monday, a day after explosions ripped through two venues
where crowds were watching the World Cup.
At least 71 people were hospitalized, police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba
said.
The casualties included one American death, the U.S. Embassy said. The
American killed is Nate Henn, according to an organization that works with
children in Uganda.
In a post on its website, the organization -- Invisible Children -- said
Henn was in the country working with Ugandan students. CNN could not
independently verify the information.
"Nate was not a glory-seeker and never sought the spotlight. He asked not to
be made a hero of," the post said. "But the life he lived inspires
reflection and imitation."
At least six other Americans were injured.
Mike Hammer, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, called the
attacks "deplorable and cowardly."
The blasts hit in the capital, Kampala, within 50 minutes of each other. The
first one struck an Ethiopian restaurant in a neighborhood dotted with bars
and popular among expatriates; two were at a rugby sports center.
A senior Ugandan government official confirmed there were three bombs. The
second one at the rugby club was the most severe, said the official, who is
not authorized to speak to the media because of the sensitivity of the
situation.
Stone Atwine was watching the game at the rugby center when the blast
occurred.
"It happened toward the 90th minute of the game ... this loud explosion," he
said. "We didn't know what was happening, we were running around, scampering
for safety. I saw dead guys still seated in their chairs with blood."
Atwine said a second explosion struck the venue seconds later, and turned
off the lights.
"At that point, we ran off. My friends and I ran into the car and drove
off."
Relatives flocked to hospitals and mortuaries to look for loved ones Monday.
"I was watching the game with my brother at the rugby center," said Ian
Lule, who was among a group gathered at a city hospital. "The blast left him
unconscious. I don't know how he is."
People were wailing, some were trying to find their relatives, others were
trying to run away from the scene
In the capital, crowds huddled around newspapers, talking in hushed tones.
"Everyone is shocked, everyone is talking about it," said Mark Keith
Muhumuza, who was watching the game at a stadium near the rubgy center
explosion. "We were in panic mode at the stadium because we thought we would
be attacked next."
Muhumuza said when the game ended, he went to the rugby center.
"People were wailing, some were trying to find their relatives, others were
trying to run away from the scene."
The sites of the bombings remained cordoned off as authorities intensified
security in the east African nation. Police and military forces patrolled
the capital.
"We have more security forces, and are asking everyone to be cautious,"
Nabakooba said. "We are also asking people to avoid large crowds, but the
most important thing is to be cautious."
Some of the injured at the restaurant included six members of an American
church mission working with a local congregation, according to the Rev.
Kathleen Kind, pastor of Christ Community United Methodist Church in
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
All the church members were accounted for and families had been contacted,
Kind said. Their injuries ranged from broken bones and flesh wounds to
temporary blindness and hearing problems, she said.
Nabakooba called the bombings "definite acts of terrorism."
Islamic militants battling Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government
have threatened attacks on Uganda and Burundi, which contribute troops to an
African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
"Our first suspicion is that this could be the work of terrorists from
Somalia because of our forces in that country," the Ugandan government
official said. "There is an investigation going on, our security agencies
are analyzing the situation on the ground, but our first suspicion is
Al-Shabaab. We've had this suspicion all along."
The African Union summit is scheduled to be held in Kampala next week.
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