Today marks six years after the tragic 2010 twin bombings in Kampala that claimed at least 76 lives and left more than 70 injured and traumatized.
On July 11th 2010, city dwellers were watching the world cup finals at Kyadondo Rugby club and Ethiopian village restaurant when bombs went off and killed people, a tragedy that many have since failed to overcome.
The bombings were then linked to the Alshabab militants who were against Uganda’s decision to deploy its soldiers in Somalia where they were fighting the government and innocent civilians.
13 suspects Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian nationals were then arrested in connection with the bomb blasts and their trial began in March 2015 at the High Court.
Eyewitnesses said there was an explosion near the 90th minute of the match, followed by a second explosion seconds later that knocked out the lights at the field.
An explosion went off directly in front of a large screen that was showing the telecast from South Africa, killing 49 people.
The discovery of a severed heads and legs at the rugby field suggests that it was a suicide attack carried out by an individual.
A third unexploded vest was later found.
Uganda Police Force Inspector General Kale Kayihura stated, "The information we have indicates the people who have attacked the Ethiopian Village were probably targeting expatriates.”
Most of the dead were Ugandan. Others included: an Indian, an Irish Lay missionary, and one Kenyan. It was speculated that another could have been killed.
Additionally, a US citizen was slain. There were also at least six Eritrean and one Ethiopian death in the blast.
The injured also included six Methodist missionaries from a Pennsylvania church.
Seven men convicted of carrying out the tragic bombings were each handed life sentences by a judge on Friday May 27th 2016.
The men, four Kenyans, two Ugandans and one Tanzanian faced a potential death sentence but High Court Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo said he didn’t believe that death row would bring closure to families that lost their loved ones.
Hussein Hassan Agade, Idris Magondu, Issa Luyima, Suleiman Njoroge and Muhammad Ali Muhammad were all sentenced to life imprisonment, whereas Hassan Haruna Luyima and Seleman Hijjar Nyamandondo were sentenced to 50 years in prison for each of the counts.
Survivors of the bomb blasts have lived to tell the stories from this tragedy as others struggle to recover from the horrific experience they witnessed on such a day.
