________________

KAMPALA - The Government of Uganda is planning to deploy Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Deputy Defence spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki on Monday, March 18, 2024, said the move is one of the ways to increase pressure on the force in a bid to brunt ADF's terror activities.

Uganda has since November 2022 been battling the group inside DR Congo under Operation Shujaa.

Operations have concentrated around eastern DR Congo as the army moves to flash the rebels out and weaken their efforts of attacking Uganda.

The operation is currently being undertaken through a joint military offensive by UPDF and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, Akiiki said: “We are sharing all plans with our counterparts, including some of the proposals by the two heads of state of DRC (President Felix Tshisekedi) and Uganda (President Yoweri Museveni) of deploying LDUs to stop the current killings in DRC. "

According to Akiiki, other members of the group include Issa Muhammad, Amigo Kibiringe, aka Simba, Muhamad Lumisa and Nasser Hamid Diiru and one of them is suspected to have been sent by Abu Waqas for the mission.

At the event, Akiiki also warned that they have intelligence that the group has once again infiltrated Uganda.

He said the group that made the incursion into the country is under the commander of a notorious ADF commander Ahamed Muhamood Hassan aka Abu Waqas, a Tanzanian-born ADF bomb expert.

He added that entry was done two days ago.

According to Akiiki, other members of the group include Issa Muhammad, Amigo Kibiringe, aka Simba, Muhamad Lumisa and Nasser Hamid Diiru and one of them is suspected to have been sent by Abu Waqas for the mission.

Akiiki said sister security agencies have been informed and are on alert. 

“We will continue working together to protect Ugandans, as we have always done. It is simply suicidal for these terrorists to continue making terrorism adventures into Uganda,” he said.

He said having been hit hard in areas of Kamanda inside DRC, ADF has gone on rampage in DRC killing civilians far away from where the Joint Forces are operating with the Armed Forces of the DRC.

He called for public vigilance to identify and report any suspicious individuals or packages to avoid being victims of ADF terror as well as catch up with this group.

In October last year, 10 elements of ADF terrorists under the commander of Kamusi and Njovu infiltrated the country through the Kasese district and killed terrorists in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

They also attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School and killed students, and burnt a lorry carrying traders with their merchandise. They later crossed to Kamwenge district, attacked civilians and left three dead.  

The commander Kamusi was however later killed, his second in command Njovu was captured and is currently undergoing trial.