Residents and business owners in Kajjansi and Lubowa were left in shock after police revealed details of a fake bomb plot targeting two major financial institutions. Kampala Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a foreign national and a boda boda rider accused of staging the hoax in a bid to extort over UGX 600 million.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday evening when the foreign suspect, described by police as a “white man,” handed sealed envelopes to boda rider Madi Muteta. He was instructed to deliver them to ABSA Bank and Guild Forex Bureau, both located inside Quality Supermarket, Lubowa along Entebbe Road. When staff at the two places opened the envelopes, they were shocked to find threatening letters.
The letters claimed that pipe bombs had been planted at the entrances and demanded payments in different currencies: $120,000 (UGX 427m), €20,000 (UGX 83m), £20,000 (UGX 96m), and UGX 30m. The message was clear—if the money was not paid, explosions would follow.
Police swung into action immediately, cordoning off the premises and deploying the bomb squad. After a thorough inspection, experts confirmed that there were no bombs at all, and the threats were fake. However, the panic and fear caused by the hoax had already shaken both the staff and the public.
Investigations quickly traced the source of the letters using CCTV footage along Entebbe Road, which captured the vehicle linked to the foreign suspect. This led to his arrest, along with Muteta, who had unknowingly delivered the envelopes.
During interrogation, Muteta admitted he had delivered the letters but insisted he had no idea what was inside. He told investigators he had simply been paid UGX 20,000 for the errand. “I thought I was just lucky to earn twenty thousand for a short trip. I did not know it would land me in trouble,” he said.
Police are now digging deeper into the foreign suspect’s background and motives. They have also urged financial institutions in Kajjansi, Lubowa, and nearby areas to stay alert, warning that such extortion schemes are on the rise.
The swift response by security forces has reassured the public that, despite the scare, there was no real danger to lives or property. Still, authorities stressed that fake bomb threats carry serious consequences, and anyone caught attempting them will face the full force of the law.
This dramatic incident is a reminder of how criminals continue to devise new tricks to target institutions, and how vigilance, quick reporting, and effective police response remain the community’s strongest line of defense.
