Police has put a UGX 20million reward for any person who provides information leading to the arrest of Sheikh Abu Ubaida Badir Diin Bukenya, the individual believed to be the coordinator of domestic terror cells in Uganda.
This was announced by the Force on Tuesday following the arrest of another suspected attacker of former Chief of Defence Forces Gen Edward Katumba Wamala Huzaifa Wampa alias Kanaabe which resulted in the death of the General’s daughter Brenda Nantongo and his body guard Haruna Kayondo.
Sheikh Bukenya is a former rebel belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces – ADF who had been granted amnesty but later violated it.
“The Joint Security Agencies have raised the reward for any information leading to the arrest of its Most Wanted Person, a one Sheikh Abu Ubaida Badir Diin Bukenya, the overall coordinator of domestic terror cells, in the country, from UGX 5million to UGX 20million,” read a statement by Police said Tuesday.
“We believe the reward will provide a significant incentive to anyone with credible information that will help lead to his arrest” the statement reads further.
The force added that the information can be shared on Telephone contact numbers; 0716-160261, 0717-179622 and 0715- 411674.
Sheikh Bukenya is believed to have masterminded a number of attacks on high profile ndividuals who has been victims of terror in the past.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Paul Lokech believes the only way to erase the said dangerous terror gang from Uganda, its leader Sheikh Badir Bukenya has to be arrested, a reason why the Police’s focus has been shifted to tracking him.
“He has been actively recruiting assailants and reactivating the terror cells. We have widely shared his photos and put out a reward for anyone with credible information that can lead to his arrest,” Police said.
“The public should know that we are dealing with a very deadly and militant group. In the counter-terror operations that we conducted, most of the suspects were violent and confrontational, to the raids made on their hide-outs and during the recovery of the killer weapons, i.e. the two AK47 guns and a pistol and other relevant exhibits, from Nansana, Katooke, Matugga, Maganjo, Namuwongo and Kalule-Bombo. Two of our officers who were seriously injured are still nursing wounds.”
