UPDF strikes ADF camp in DRC after Queen Elizabeth Park attack

Kampala, (UG): President Yoweri Museveni Saturday announced that the Ugandan military helicopters launched an attack on a camp of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, located 60 km from the border between Uganda and the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“This is to inform you that today, the 21st of October, 2023, we paid a serious visit to the ADF terrorists in Congo. Our gunships attacked a big camp of these criminals, 60kms from the border, Ntoroko side. The attack was devastating because it was a clear target and the reconnaissance plane, was monitoring from the air,” Mr Museveni said in a statement posted on X, a social media platform previously known as Twitter.

“Meanwhile, the group of 5 People that burnt the lorry, the tourist van and killed the 2 tourists with their driver, is being hunted in the area to the left of Bweera- Kikoroongo Road as you come from Bweera,” the President added.

Gen Museveni also advised the UPDF to involve civilians in the hunt for the errant rebels, saying the police, military vigilance and anti-terrorism efforts will be enough to thwart them

“The UPDF should involve the Police and the Wanainchi to hunt for these groups, running from Congo. They are no longer a military problem. They are; Police, popular vigilance and anti-terrorism efforts. We are destroying their base in Congo.”

This air raid occurred less than a week after suspected ADF rebels attacked a safari vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two tourists and their guide in a national park area in western Uganda.

A week earlier, ADF terrorists also attacked a cargo truck transporting onions, killing one civilian and set ablaze the vehicle.

“The group of five people responsible for burning the lorry, the tourist van, and killing the two tourists with their driver is being pursued,” Museveni said.

In a previous statement, Museveni had warned that ADF rebels might attempt to infiltrate the border to enter Uganda due to the mounting pressure they were facing from the joint forces of Ugandan and DRC soldiers.

Ugandan troops, in collaboration with their DRC counterparts, have been jointly combating the rebel group since 2022.

The ADF, also a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is held responsible for causing chaos and launching attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in eastern DRC.