On this day three years back, It was the World Cup final game between Netherlands and Spain at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds and celebrity stylist, Brenda Nanyonjo was among the many fans who were following the game at the venue.

In the 83rd minute of the game, a blast went off which many mistook for an electric shock. Minutes later, another blast went off leaving scores at Kyadondo and Ethiopian village dead.

Brenda suffered injuries on her left leg and arm and a deep cut on her head. Doctors later established that she had a shrapnel in the skull. It was during the second blast that Brenda noticed a head of one of the victims fly over her as she wailed in pain. Friends were able to rush her to Paragon hospital.

Brenda recalls that, on the fateful day, God was on her side because she started off the night with Garden City based Boda Boda bar before relocating to Kyadondo Grounds. On getting there, all the front row and middle seats were occupied ending up with a seat at the back and that is how she survived. Most people at the front never made it back home.

Other survivors of that night included Bebe Cool who was still nursing leg injuries that were sustained in the Nakumatt shooting and his wife Zuena Kirema.

Todate, Brenda still suffers some effects like irritating sound in her ears. Doctors have advised her to avoid getting stressed and annoyed as much as possible. Brenda now treasures every second of her life. She is currently very busy with her Miss Uganda 2013 project that will be held on July 13, 2013 at Kampala Serena Hotel.

Photo: Nicholas Oneal
It is exactly one year since the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds were hit by the Al-Qaeda terrorists leaving 86 dead. A prayer to remember those who lost their lives was organised by the Uganda Joint Christian Council with representatives from  All Saints Church, Namirembe church and the Uganda Supreme Muslim Council among others. The grounds were tightly guarded from all corners .

Ministers Hillary Onek, Hon Muruli Mukasa and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Julius Odwe attended the service. The Chairman of the Uganda Rugby Club William Blick, Diplomats from the UK and US Embassies also attended.

WBS and UBC outside broadcasting vans were on sight to cover the service coupled with various journalists from newspapers, radio and TV stations. 86 candles were lit for each of the victims. 

Some of the 86 names included Brian Kivumbi, Charles Matovu, Amina Kabiriti, Alice Kyalimpa and Abbas Muhamed.

Related: Kyadondo Blast

The name Kyadondo Rugby Club is going to be changed to Kyadondo Memorial Cub in honour of the people who lost their lives in the twin bombs on July 11. Three men were arrested and remanded to Luzira Prison yesterday on 86 counts of terrorism and murder.
They are believed to have clues on the 7/11 bombs.

Looks like the area is till being haunted by ghosts as this morning a fuel tanker swerved off the road killing one employee of Game supermarket. It spilled over 1000 litres of fuel in the tunnel just by the road side blocking the entry to Kyadondo Rugby Club.

This resulted in a cancellation of special prayers that had been arranged to take place at the blast site for fear of loosing more people due to the many litres of fuel that were seen flowing a few yards away.

For a greater part of the day, this section of the road was blocked and traffic was being directed to one lane.

July 11 Bombs - Two Kenyan Men Arrested
President Visits Victims and Bomb Sites

Three men were today charged with 89 offences in relation to the July 11 bombs in Kyadondo and Ethiopian Village that left over 80 dead. Hassan Agadi and Muhamad Adam are Kenyans while Idris Kiggundu is a Ugandan working in Kenya.

They were produced at Nakawa court which was heavily guarded at the time. The three are have been charged and remanded to Luzira while investigations for ten others go on. The Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombing that took place as fans watched the final game between Spain and Netherlands.
Related: Kyadondo Blast

The July 11, 2010 Kampala bomb blasts did not only leave 74 people dead but have also had adverse effects on the lifestyle of people leaving in Kampala in particular and the country at large.

Increased Security in Public Places
There is increased security in all public places ranging from Taxi and Bus parks, Churches, Discotheques and Shopping Malls. This has not been the case before the Sunday bombs but now one has to under go long queues to access certain services as there is thorough checking at most of the points.

Tightened Airport Security
The airport security has equally been tightened resulting in increased check in hours from the previous two hours to now three hours. The vehicles driving into the airport are even subjected to more checking than they were before the bombs which means spending more hours on the road.

Empty Bars 
Some Kampala bars like Iguana have closed until Monday as they beef up their security to be able to measure up with the new security demands. Fat Boyz was open but with a handful of customers since Monday.

Low Sales For Supermarkets
Uchumi Supermarket which is very busy on a good day has equally been less busy as customers are in some sort of self curfew. Accessing some of these places now requires more time than before as there is rigorous checking of all the cars and yet  entry points to these places are limited. All passengers have to leave the car as a metal detector is used on them to be sure they are not armed.

Overnight Prayer Banned
There has been a tendency of born again Christians praying throughout the night but this act has been banned in the wake of last Sunday bombs that left over 70 people dead. All Christians to these churches will have to be registered and whoever enters the church must be checked thoroughly. Prayers should not go beyond midnight.

Upcountry Discotheques Risk Closure
In Masaka for example all Discotheques have been ordered to install metal detectors or risk to be closed.

As all that goes on, there is minimum activity within Kampala. If anything there has been more activity on bomb scares with sniffer dogs and bomb squads responding to all calls made to them from the public which is now more vigilant and alert and not about to take any situation for granted.

            
The President spent a greater part of the day assessing the extent at which the bombs hit Kampala in Kyadondo and the Ethiopian Village bar. In Kabalagala, he was particularly surprised on how a bomb could blow off a roof in a small bar fully occupied and none of them was able to notice something was wrong.

The Alshabaab have come out and claimed responsibility of the blasts that rocked Kampala on the July 11 night. President Museveni while addressing a crowd at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds termed the act as: "irresponsible, backward, cowardly.  If you want to fight, why don't you look for soldiers and fight them other than targeting people enjoying themselves."

At Kyadondo, he was accompanied by the Mayor of Kampala Al Hajj Nasser Ntege Ssebagala. The President later proceeded to Mulago Hospital where he listened to some of the survivors.

Mulago Hospital was a beehive of activity with many trying to identify their loved ones. Grief and anger was eminent. A statement from Mulago Hospital put the number of those admitted at 58 of which 5 died on arrival, 2 died from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as 3 remain in a critical condition.

The Media Center has put the official number of the dead at 74 broken down as 28 Ugandans, 11 Ethiopians, a lady from Ireland, and one from Asian Origin. A total of 33 bodies remain un unidentified.

It is less than 24 hours since yesterday's twin bombs went off leaving 74 dead and tens others seriously injured. Latest reports indicate another bomb has been diffused at a Makindye House.

The bar owner says they were over 200 customers who had gathered to watch the World Cup finals, wine and dine as one of them left a bag. In this bag, there was a cell phone that kept on ringing. It first rung at 10:00pm and later at 3:00am. The bar attendant ignored the bag and phone.

On opening the bag later, he noticed that the bag was connected to several wires. Now had those earlier calls from this cell phone attended to, the situation would have equally been a different story at the Makindye.

July 12 has been a dark day for Uganda after two separate bomb blasts went off in Kabalagala and Kyadondo Rugby Grounds that remain cordoned off to the public as investigations into who and how this was done continue.

Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni has declared one week of mourning starting Tuesday, July 13 which will see flags flying at half mast.

It was the 2010 FIFA Word Cup finals to the rest of the world while the capital city of Uganda, Kampala was being rocked by bomb blasts in three city suburbs leaving over 50 dead.

Ambulances and police patrol cars were busy transporting victims and dead bodies to Mulago hospital. Two bombs went off at about 11:00pm with Kyandondo Rugby Club in Lugogo being the worst hit. The explosions occurred during the half time between Spain and Netherlands.

The other bomb blast was at Ethiopian village in Kabalagala that left at least 13 dead as confirmed by the Inspector General of Police, Major General Kale Kayihura who suspects the Al Shabab were behind this.

There are unconfirmed reports of similar blasts in Ntinda and Bwaise. For Kampala, World Cup end was a disaster because it only left Kampala mourning.Most of the dead were seen still seated on the chairs holding beer bottles.

Bebe Cool, Zuena and UBC's Lauryn were among the survivors of the Kyandondo Rugby bombs.

Details on the Kampala bomb blasts will be provided as they become available.