US on alert for attack in Uganda

The US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, said it was on alert for the possibility of an attack like the one that struck Nairobi, Kenya, last month. A terrorist attack on the upscale Westgate shopping center in Nairobi in September left more than 60 people dead. Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group with ties to al-Qaida and Somalia, claimed responsibility for the siege. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda's capital, said it was examining reports that a "Westgate-style" attack may occur in the city. "At this time, there is no further information on timing and/or location of this attack," the warning published Tuesday said. "The embassy will continue to alert U.S. citizens to any credible, specific information about this and any other potential threats." U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said al-Shabaab deserves a closer look. The Nairobi attack suggested lawmakers need to take a "critical" look at the threat posed by al-Shabaab to U.S. national security interests, he said. The U.S. State Department has not issued formal travel advisory for Uganda despite the embassy warning.