Tension as Uganda police detonates bulged gas cylinder at Mulago

Tension as Uganda police detonates bulged gas cylinder at Mulago
Uganda Police Bomb Squad in Kampala has detonated a gas cylinder which was suspected to be a bomb device.

Kampala, Uganda | URN | Traffic flow was paralyzed on Wednesday 20th afternoon after the Bomb Squad Unit cordoned off roads leading to and from Wandegeya and Mulago areas over a bulged gas cylinder.

A gas cylinder belonging to a metal fabrication workshop that doubles as a Washing Bay opposite Mulago Hospital was detected swollen by owners on Tuesday afternoon. Moments later, they alerted Wandegeya and Mulago Hospital Police.

The Bomb Squad Unit arrived to detonate the gas cylinder backed up by another team from Fire and Emergency Rescue Directorate.

Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the police teams first poured cold water on the gas cylinder in order to cool down but, in vain. Then the police decided to pour hips of sand on it so that it could be detonated at the scene. By press time, the process was ongoing.

Owoyesigyire said police decided to blow off the gas cylinder at the scene because it was a threat to the public and officers who could have attempted to load it on a Bomb Squad motor vehicle.

Read Also: One killed, six injured in gas cylinder explosion in Banda

Nevertheless, the police battled with an inquisitive public that gathered around in order to take a glimpse of the bulged gas cylinder. In order to disperse the crowd without causing havoc, police invited Field Force Unit (FFU) to control the curious crowd.

On October 25, one person died and six others were injured when a gas cylinder exploded at a Metal Fabrication workshop at Banda, along Kampala – Kireka Road. A similar incident occurred in September at Namayumba, Wakiso District where a gas cylinder exploded and killed two people. Six others were injured.