Police Detonate Russian Explosive At Alien Skin Property

A Russian-made hand grenade was allegedly discovered at the construction site of controversial singer Alien Skin in Makindye on July 1, raising fresh concerns amid heightened security alerts in the capital Kampala.

In a video posted by media personality Erich Mbowa on X (formerly Twitter), Alien Skin is seen casually making a phone call while holding the grenade in one hand and displaying it to others—prompting alarm from viewers.

At some point, the singer, who was born Patrick Mulwana, is seen playing with the deadly object and dummying one of his minders in a fake attempt to hurl it his way.

The footage sparked debate online, with many questioning the recklessness of handling a potentially deadly device without proper safety measures.

According to a statement issued by SSP Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, the grenade was discovered by construction workers at Alien Skin’s site in Nakinyogozi, Makindye Division, around 3:30pm on Tuesday.

“Upon arrival, Alien Skin presented the grenade to the officers, who advised him to put it down for safety. He explained that his construction workers had discovered it while digging a foundation,” Onyango said.

The area was immediately cordoned off, and the Police Bomb Squad conducted a controlled detonation.

The device was later confirmed to be a Russian hand-thrown grenade. Police processed the scene and documented the incident.

Onyango urged the public to exercise caution when encountering suspicious objects: “Do not touch or move them. Inform the authorities immediately.”

The discovery comes just weeks after a June 3 bombing on Martyrs Day in which two people were killed, and the gunning down of a woman near Kalerwe market, incidents that have led to the arrest of several intelligence operatives over what insiders have described as a probe into fake or staged terror alerts.

While it is unclear whether the grenade found at Alien Skin’s site is linked to broader investigations, its emergence adds a new layer of intrigue to an already tense security atmosphere in Kampala.

As police continue to investigate, the incident has also reignited scrutiny over Alien Skin’s controversial public behaviour—this time not for music, but for how he handled a live explosive with chilling nonchalance.