US citizens in Uganda told to brace for possible attack by Al-Shabab

The U.S. embassy in Uganda on Saturday warned American citizens in the country to stay at home overnight as Ugandan authorities attempt to foil a possible attack by members of Somali militant group Al-Shabab recently discovered to be operating in the capital, Kampala.

In an “emergency message” published on its website, the U.S. embassy said it was assessing the scope of a possible plot by Al-Shabab, which has vowed to avenge the killing of its leader Ahmed Godane last week by a U.S. airstrike, and whether members of the cell plotting the attack are still at large. 

The statement did not give details of steps being taken by Ugandan authorities to counter the threat. However, it did urge U.S. citizens to give authorities time to establish heightened security measures.

“At this point we are not aware of specific targets, and the Ugandan authorities have increased security at key sites, Including Entebbe International Airport,” the embassy said.

Uganda, as one of the countries that contribute forces to an African Union peacekeeping mission battling Al-Shabab in Somalia, has suffered militant attacks in recent years, and the armed group has threatened more.

The U.S. embassy, shortly before issuing its announcement, told its citizens, in a message posted on Twitter, to stay at home or proceed to a safe location while Ugandan authorities completed operations.

Al-Shabab, which is aligned with Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi in neighboring Kenya last year. Sixty-seven people were killed in that attack.

In 2010, Al-Shabab bombed sports bars in Uganda where people were watching the soccer World Cup tournament on television.

The U.S. Embassy, which says Uganda faces a “continued threat” by the group, has issued previous alerts about possible attacks.

Wire services