Uganda: Blasts Occur Near India's Para-Badminton Team Hotel, Contingent Safe

At least 24 people have been hospitalised with injuries sustained in the blasts, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said in a Twitter post.

Photo Courtesy: @WilberSerumaga / Twitter

New Delhi: Two explosions rocked Uganda's capital Kampala on Tuesday morning, causing panic and people running for cover, news agency AP reported. The twin blasts are being treated as coordinated attacks. Nothing has been said about casualties yet.

Meanwhile, a video posted online by the official Twitter handle of Para-badminton India showed smoke billowing out near the spot where explosions occurred and also confirmed that multiple bomb blasts took place 100 meters away from official Hotel in which India's Para-badminton was staying and that they are safe.

Indian Team is Safe!There is multiple Bomb Blast 100 mtr away from official Hotel in which @parabadmintonIN team staying incl. @GauravParaCoach
& @PramodBhagat83 @manojsarkar07@joshimanasi11@IndiainUganda@Media_SAI @ParalympicIndia @YASMinistry @IndiaSports @PMOIndia https://t.co/bAlsNdK4XS pic.twitter.com/TldWuwlXUn

— Para-Badminton India (@parabadmintonIN) November 16, 2021

Witnesses said one of the explosions took place near a police station and the other exploded on the roadside near the Parliament building. According to news agency AP, the blast near Parliament was likely to have targeted a building which houses an insurance company's office. Due to the explosion, the vehicles parked there caught fire. According to national broadcaster UBC, some MPs were seen vacating the nearby Parliament House complex.

At least 24 people have been hospitalised with injuries sustained in the blasts, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said in a Twitter post.

Following the unfortunate and cowardly act of terrorism, our health workers are working around the clock to save lives of those injured. @MulagoHospital is currently attending to about 24 causalities. Reports indicate four are in critical conditions

— Ainebyoona Emmanuel (@ainbyoo) November 16, 2021

“What we can say (is) this was an attack but who is responsible is a matter that is under investigation,” Uganda’s Assistant Inspector General of police Edward Ochom told the AFP news agency.

VIDEO: This is what our reporter, Sudhir Byaruhanga told us as soon as he arrived at Parliamentary avenue, where a bomb explosion went off a couple of minutes back. #NTVNews

Watch 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/k97fZxqMrn

— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) November 16, 2021

It is yet to be confirmed whether the expulsions were triggered by a bomb or some other way. Ugandan officials have been urging people to exercise caution in the wake of a series of bombings in recent weeks.

One person was killed and at least seven were injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Kampala on 23rd October. 

The Allied Democratic Forces, an affiliate of the Islamic State group in central Africa, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the restaurant.

(With inputs from AP)