‘ADF still has 700 captives’

By John Nzinjah OVER 700 persons, most of them women and children are still under ADF captivity in the Rwenzori Mountains in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.Kasese Resident District Commissioner Musa Ecweru revealed this yesterday at a workshop for psycho-social volunteers from five sub-counties that were most affected by abductions and displacement during the ADF rebel insurgency.the function took place at the Verina Gardens in Kasese town.“I want to appeal to all community based organisations and NGOs engaged in addressing the post war challenges to get prepared to handle the possible influx of returnees who may report at any moment,” Ecweru said.Ecweru who had earlier launched a peace and reconciliation crusade in the district, asked community based organisations (CBOs) and NGOs to compile comprehensive work plans for the rehabilitation, resettlement and re-integration of former abductees whom he said would be returning in big numbers.He was meeting CBOs and NGOs engaged in various areas of psycho-social rehabilitation.He said since the death of Tiger, one of the formidable commanders of the defeated ADF, at least 50 abductees had returned and were receiving psycho-social rehabilitation at Kilembe rehabilitation centre run by Give Me a Chance, a Norwegian religious NGO. Tiger was killed in late March in eastern DRC.