Police Friday said their Directorate of Crime Intelligence had arrested 24 suspects believed to be the funders of the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) terror group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said the same criminal gang network conducted effective surveillance against foreign businessmen transporting cash, whom they attacked at suitable get-away points.

They further utilized various methods of secret communication to conceal their criminal activities. Several exhibits of motorcycles, mobile phones and documents were recovered.

"The DCI has so far arrested 24 suspects who form part of a criminal network, involved in the financing of ADF terrorism activities, in the DRC and in Uganda. Among those arrested are Isma Kyeyune alias Ismail alias Beckam alias Buguman alias Musilamu alias Mohammad, a 30-year-old, boda-boda rider and a resident of Bulaga- Nakabugo and Kinamundu villages in Wakiso District, who was recruited in the ADF ranks in 2021, by Adam Matovu alias Manhajji alias Musa Muko from Kalerwe,” Enanga said.

He said the task team also arrested Musa Mubiru alias Musilamu alias Professor alias Sheikh alias Nathan; Patrick Kiiza alias Pato; Hamis Kinene alias Mis and Wadimba Jackson alias Sejusa.

“Together with others, they paid allegiance to the ADF and admitted to conspiring with others to stage robberies of aggravated nature. The proceeds were being used to finance ADF activities (including recruitment of future terrorist fighterS), and also cover welfare costs of families of ADF fighters. The two suspects were trained in combat and martial art skills from Kawempe-Ttula, together with Ajode, Musa Kabanda alias Musomesa and Mwebe, who were arrested recently from the ADF hub in Luwero,” Enanga explained.

 Enanga said during the disruptive operations, two notorious gang leaders, were fatally wounded, one while resisting arrest and the other during a foiled robbery.

“One of them was identified as Tomusange Farouk alias Otto alias Juma Otti alias Ssebaduka Ramadhan alias Abdulaziz Nsubuga. His gang participated in the robbery of sh300m, from Mohammad Ahmed, a Somali businessman at Equatorial Hotel on 25.05.2020, they robbed Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu at Green Hill Academy on June 7, 2021; robbed sh400m from Lee Yin Tang, a Chinese Businessman along Nkrumah road, robbed Juwan Lal, an Indian businessman on the 24.07.2022, along Mawanda road; on the 9.02.2021, they robbed €100.000 (sh450m)  from Kushamohan Konnakutty, an Indian businessman at the Jinja Road Traffic junction, among others. He was, however, shot dead on May 6, 2022, from Kyeyagalire zone, Makindye, during a violent counter operation.”

Enanga said the second gang leader, identified as Mugalu Ibra alias Nakwero, was shot dead during a foiled robbery at Old Kampala in Mengo on June 2, 2022. 

“The former convict was involved in the robbery of sh150m and two mobile phones from Abdallah Gitawu, a Kenyan businessman along Apollo Kaggwa Road; robbed $4,500 (sh15m) and sh20m, from Ke Qiu Fang Ma Lee, a Chinese businessman; also robbed 3 separate South Sudanese business persons at Kawaala $80,000 (sh288m) Bakuli Mengo $30.000(sh108m); Kasubi –Namungoona $10.000(sh36m),” Enanga added.

 Police informed the public that their counter-terror operations were still ongoing. 

“We further thank our dedicated DCI teams for disrupting the flow of terrorist funding, both indigenous and from external sources, which has been very critical in curtailing ADF terror activities in Uganda, since May 2021, when our disruptive operations began.”