Ethiopian eyewitnesses speak about Uganda’s bomb blast

By Tamiru Geda

Ethiopians who witnessed the bomb blast in Kampala, Uganda, are giving their account about the incident. The twin bombs blast that is carried out by the Somalia Muslim extremists, Al Shabab on Sunday, July 11, 2010 killed and injured more than 76 innocent people respectively. Several world leaders and International organization are condemning the act .

One grateful survivor was Tesfalem Waldyes Ethiopian Journalist on a fellow ship program in Uganda. He told The Voice of America Amharic Service that while he was watching the World Cup final game between Spain and Holland in the popular Ethiopian Village Restaurant the bomb went off near the giant TV screen." First When I heard a big voice I thought it was some technical problem related with the TV’s Screen. Then after people were screaming and ran away from the area emotionally several gusts were lied down. I saw people’s feet socked with blood. We tried to give first aid for injured people in the area. Some are totally unconscious” Tesfalem said.

Tesfalem on FaceBook :

“I’m …alive…..

I’m… alive… I survived….

I was at the Ethiopian village restaurant, when the bomb blast…

The sound was deafening…pieces of human flesh was scatred on my cloth, eyeglass and body… I have seen at least eight people covered on a blood…

So shocking and I cannot believe it happened a few meters away from me…ohhh God!!”


In his observation those football fans who seated near the big Television Screen were highly affected. He said: “ I was in the middle of the audiences. I’m lucky enough to escape safe from the tragedy.” He believed that among those 15 people killed in the Ethiopian restaurant about 10 seem Ethiopians or Eritreans. In similar incident a second bomb blast in the Rugby club where more than 1000 football fans were watching Africa’s first world Cup. The number of dead people in Rugby club reached more than 50.

Ato Asgeber Gebru, an Ethiopian who left his country following the failed 2005 National Election in Ethiopia .He said he is one of the luckiest people in the world. “Hadn’t been the telephone call I received from my family to meet a gust at my house I would have been one of those dead .When I recounted it, those people who are pronounced dead were sitting next to me.” Asgeber Said .

Dereje Begashaw, Exiled Ethiopian Journalist in Kampala told this writer that the past 48 hours was one of the worst times in his life.” Yesterday I went to the hospital. And I saw the dead body of one Ethiopian and six Eritrean friends. We lost our beloved friends for nothing. please pray for us.” Dereje said desperately .

Special to NewsDire