Ban and Security Council strongly condemn bombings in Uganda

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have strongly condemned the bombings that struck the Ugandan capital on Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding hundreds at two sites as they were watching the final match of the football World Cup.

Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based militant group, has reportedly said it carried out the attacks in Kampala, which have claimed over 70 lives among Ugandans and other nationalities.

Mr. Ban described the bombings as “vicious” in a statement issued today by his spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of these acts will be brought to justice and prosecuted,” it said.

The Council too underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these “reprehensible acts of terrorism” to justice.

In a statement read out to the press by Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu of Nigeria, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for July, the 15-member body urged all States to cooperate with the Ugandan authorities in this regard.

“The members of the Security Council reaffirm that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” Ms. Ogwu added.

Both Mr. Ban and the Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and the Government of Uganda.