Santana’s Death Marks End Of ADF

Mar 16, 2004

ON March 8, an ADF commander called Hamza Santana was killed in a UPDF ambush. Security sources in Kasese say Santana’s death is a big blow to the re-grouping efforts of the ADF and an achievement by the UPDF.

By Vision Reporter
ON March 8, an ADF commander called Hamza Santana was killed in a UPDF ambush. Security sources in Kasese say Santana’s death is a big blow to the re-grouping efforts of the ADF and an achievement by the UPDF.
Lt Col. Adula Mawa, former Commander of the Alpine Brigade, said the late Santana was a notorious rebel who had survived 28 UPDF ambushes and killed dozens of UPDF soldiers and civilians. The Alpine Brigade was specially constituted to fight the ADF.
According to Lt Paul Muwonge, the Alpine Brigade Intelligence Officer, Santana was now the commander of the ADF’s Special Branch Brigade responsible for reconnaissance and scouting. He led the group that kidnapped students of St John’s Minor Seminary in Kiburara. He almost killed Lt Col. Mawa in an open battle in which he (Santana) was also shot in the mouth leaving permanent mark on his face.
“Special Branch was initially composed of former NALU and Rwenzururu elements because of their knowledge of the terrain and local contacts. When most of the NALU and Rwenzururu elements deserted ADF, Santana, who had proven himself as a field commander was appointed to head the Special Branch Brigade. Santana had very loyal family contacts who could not forsake him,” said Lt. Muwonge on phone.
Santana, whose real name was Bahwere Kuule was born in the late sixties. He acquired the name Hamza in the early 80s after converting to Islam at a neighbour’s home. In 1982, instead of going to primary seven at Kisiinga Primary School, he went to Rwenzori Islamic Institute in Bwera. His mother is a Muslim, while his late father Gabriel Mayanja was a Catholic.
By 1987, he had acquired a very good grasp of the Koran and spoke fluent Arabic. In 1988 he left for Kampala where he worked as a fishmonger in Bwaise market up to 1993. In 1994, he got a job as a shop attendant on Nabugabo Road. It is said that Abdalha Bwambale (another Muslim convert), the infamous ADF’s Kabanda Matovu, also worked in this shop before going Pakistan and eventually Afghanistan for ‘Islamic Studies’.
Early 1994, Santana trained in basic martial arts (judo and jujitsu) at the Young Men Christian Association at Wandegeya. At this time, he had already joined the ADF system. Late 1994, Santana left his shop attendant job and retired to his home in Kirembo village, Kisiinga sub-county. He got married and sort of settled down.
Kirembo not being a predominantly Muslim area, Santana immediately assumed leadership of a restless group of youths who built their own mosque far from the mosque at Kiburara. He mobilised the Muslim youths in the area under an organisation named Kiburara Salaf Foundation. He had a bicycle decorated with crossed swords, an insignia associated with Islamic Jihad. Around March 1995, he and his Kiburara Salaf Foundation colleagues were arrested and detained at Nyabirongo, the tactical headquarters of the 21st Battalion. They were released after two weeks.
In June 1995, Faisal Munganga (another Muslim covert) and an ADF recruit who had disappeared from Kiburara for about a year resurfaced in Kasese. Shortly after, they all disappeared and were never to return home. November 13, 1996, a band of ADF rebels overrun Mpondwe border post starting what has been called the ADF war. Munganga died in the initial stages of the rebellion.
Mawa, however, says that the UPDF intelligence has been urging Santana’s mother to convince his son to surrender and benefit from the general amnesty. He is said to have rejected the offer. “His death is a very big relief to the UPDF and a blow to the ADF’s re-grouping efforts,” he said.
How was he bagged? The UPDF learnt that Santana was in touch with his half-brother Kamundu Musubaho using a mobile phone. The UPDF arrested Musubaho and ordered him to call Santana for an appointment. Santana fell into an ambush as he was going for a rendezvous with Musubaho. He was killed in the exchange of fire with the UPDF when he resisted arrest.
Ends

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