Fear of Al Shabaab brings Wisdom: Uganda Boosts its Security after Kenya's Westgate Disaster

Every country responsible for the ouster of Al Shabaab in Somalia must brace up for the challenges ahead after the Westgate Mall Disaster in Kenya. An African adage says the death killing one's closest allies is a proverbial message to one. This proverb is perfectly understood by Uganda and sure Ethiopia too must not sleep.

NAN reports that Uganda, which like Kenya has sent troops to fight Islamist militants in Somalia, said on Monday it had stepped up security after a raid by Somali-linked gunmen on a Kenyan shopping mall that killed at least 68 people.

The last big attack by Somalia's al Shabaab gunmen, which has claimed responsibility for the Nairobi attack, was a double bombing in Uganda in 2010, targeting people watching the soccer World Cup final on television in Kampala, killing 77 people.

"We have generally stepped up security across the board in terms of streamlining border security so that we plug all the loopholes at entry points that could be potentially exploited by these characters," said Ugandan Army Spokesman, Lt.-Col., Paddy Ankunda. There was no obvious sign of heightened security at two of the capital's main shopping malls, beyond the usual check by private security personnel.

"We have strengthened our cooperation with our neighbouring countries in intelligence sharing and all other ways in which we can collaborate to defeat these terrorists," Ankunda added. Apparently, Ethiopia too must be ready to increase its alert level and step up its security capacity and capability.