Terrorism financing: Five ADF suspects committed to High Court for trial

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Five men suspected to be Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) members, who are accused of financing terrorism, have been committed to the International Crimes Division of the High Court to stand trial.

They are Abubaker Swalleh alias Isaac Mupeeta, Sulaiman Nsubuga alias Ibrahim Nkata, Giry Girmaley Batenge alias Magufuli, Augustine Kalanzi and Anthony Mubiru alias Aspect.

(Credit: Sophia Kagoya)

They are also battling charges of contributing to the resources of a terrorist organisation and being members of a terrorist organisation. The offences attract maximum sentences of death upon conviction.

Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi yesterday (October 20, 2025) committed the accused to the International Crimes Court for trial after the resident state attorney Joan Keko informed the court that investigations into the matter are complete.

“Since investigations into the matter are complete, I pray that the accused be sent to the International Crimes Division of the High Court for trial,” Keko submitted and the magistrate granted her request.

Prosecution alleges that the accused persons and others still at large between 2018 and April 2024 at diverse places in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, willingly collected or provided funds, directly or indirectly, by means of creating and operation an electronic virtual asset account on the Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange platform in the names of Amran Alawi.

It is also alleged that they used the said virtual asset account to mobilise, receive, collect, convert, exchange, transmit and trade in cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets; mobilising, receiving, collecting and transmitting funds electronically using various mobile money platforms; procurement of arms and ammunitions, digital watches, power banks and other essential supplies, with knowledge that the funds are to be used by a terrorist organisation.

It is further alleged that Swalleh, Nsubuga, Batenge, Kalanzi, Mubiru and others still at large between 2018 and April 2024 at diverse places in Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, belonged or professed to belong to ADF, a terrorist organisation.

Summary of the case

Court documents indicate that the organisation has had its training camps and bases in the eastern DRC since its formation in 1995 and operates in several countries in the eastern, southern and central African Regions.

“Over time, ADF affiliated itself with the globally sanctioned terrorist organisation known as the Islamic State. It is purported that the organisation is led by Sheikh Musa Baluku and other commanders, including Meddie Nkalubo alias Kibanda, Mzee Wakazi aka Luminsa, among others.

According to the prosecution, Swalleh was recruited into the ADF terrorist organisation in 2017 through systematic radicalisation at USAFI mosque in Kampala by radical individuals such as Sheikh Abdurahman Faiswal, Sheikh Nsubuga of Lweza, Arafat Kiyemba, Muhammad Musa and Ismail Abdul Hakim, among others.

It is alleged that Swalleh was later introduced to one Buddu, who convinced him to join ADF. “He accepted and willingly joined the ADF terrorist organisation and became one of its most resourceful members until his arrest,” according to the prosecution.

Prosecution purports that upon joining the ADF and winning the trust of its members, Swalleh was assigned to replace Arafat Kiyemba, an ADF operative who was involved in the purchasing and delivery of consumables and supplies such as gumboots, shoes and assorted items to ADF camps in the DRC because Kiyemba had by then been arrested and was in prison on terrorism related charges.

The indictment indicates that in 2018, Swalleh was placed in contact with one Mzee Wakazi, aka Luminsa, a sanctioned individual and senior leader of the ADF.

It is further alleged that during that year Wakazi assigned Swalleh tasks such as purchasing of foodstuffs, clothes and other items which he (Swalleh) regularly dispatched to the ADF camps in DRC using public transport.

Prosecution says that Batenge, Kalanzi and Mubiru recorded charge and caution statements at the Police where they admitted to their respective roles.