The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has launched an offensive on Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel camps in eastern DR Congo.

The UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso, confirmed the attacks on ADF camps. 

“This morning, we have launched joint air and artillery strikes against ADF camps with our Congolese allies,” she said.

Sources in Congo said the attacks have been going on since 5:30am on Tuesday, and that they targeted ADF camps in North Kivu province, Eastern DR Congo.

“The attacks followed recent talks between Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his DR Congo counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi in which the latter cleared the UPDF to launch attacks against the ADF camps,” the source added.

For months now, ADF rebels have been attacking and butchering Congolese residents, forcing hundreds of them to flee to Uganda.

Ugandan security has since intensified the screening of refugees entering the country following reports that ADF elements were using the opportunity to as well cross into Uganda.

Over 50 suspected ADF elements have so far been arrested during operations across the country. The ADF were reportedly entering the country disguising themselves as refugees.

In DR Congo, over 100 ADF fighters and their collaborators, several of them Ugandans, have been arrested by Congolese authorities.

In Uganda, the ADF rebels have been responsible for a series of bomb attacks, in which four suicide bombers died. Some other five innocent lives perished in the attacks, which also left many with injuries.

The ADF terrorists first attacked Digida pork joint in Komamboga, Kawempe division, on October 23 where one person perished.

Later on October 25, a suicide bomber who was aboard a Bushenyi-bound bus died after a bomb he was carrying exploded at Lungala in Mpigi district.

On November 16, two bombs exploded simultaneously at Central Police Station and at Jubilee House along Parliament Avenue. In these attacks, seven people died including three suicide bombers.

There is an influx of Congolese refugees to Uganda following intensified fighting between the Congolese army and suspected rebels in Bukavu, Eastern DR Congo, in the past week.

New Vision has established that hundreds of Congolese have been forced to run away from their homes with their families and household items, including animals, to seek refuge in Uganda. 

The Congolese are in the districts of; Kasese, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and Kisoro.