'34 Ex-ADF Men Were In NALU'

By John Nzinjah THE 34 ADF rebels, who on Monday surrendered to the UPDF in Mutwanga, eastern DRC were members of the defunct National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU). A former NALU commander, who surrendered to the government in 1994 and joined the UPDF said the 34 were part of NALU, and joined the ADF in 1996. "That group has been very instrumental in the ADF rebel activities in Kasese, Bundibugyo and parts of Kabarole and I think their surrender will crush the ADF rebellion," the source said. The former NALU commander, now an officer in the UPDF and active in the war against the ADF rebels in the Rwenzori mountains, said the 34 left the ADF commander, Rogers Kabanda, "in complete disarray." Major Dula Mawa Muhindo, the UPDF coordinating commander in the army operations in Mutwanga, Lhume and Virunga areas of the DRC, travelled to Lhume to receive the 34 former ADF rebels. He said they had surrendered with their families and 13 guns. Mawa identified five ADF commanders as Denis Rukale, Mukirani Rukale, Josephat Kabaka, Edward Rukale and Eko Kule. He said Denis was Kabanda's closest confidant and in charge of Kabanda's top secret armoury. Rukale hails from Bukonzo east, Kasese district. Mawa said Kabaka had been more instrumental in the ADF operations in Rwenzori mountains. On receiving the news that Dennis Rukale had surrendered, residents in Bwera town were happy and said it was "the end of the ADF rebellion in the Rwenzori mountains." "Denis was a dangerous rebel. it is a blessing that he has surrendered and we can now have peace in Kasese," a source said. Ends