UPDF Frees ADF Rebels Captured In Mbarara

By James Mujuni The army has set free three rebels of the Allied democratic forces (ADF) captured last week in Mbarara. The district secretary for security, Capt. Stephen Rwakanuma, said the trio was released under the amnesty grace period. Those set free are Godwin Muhimbira, 19, of Bujaga, Rwampara county, Nabasa Abdulakim, 22, of Ishongororo and Robert Mugisha of Bushenyi. Rwakanuma said the rebels were arrested on different occasions. "They were trying to hand themselves over to the authorities but feared reprisals from the community or possible re-arrest by the rebels," he said. One of the ex-rebels, Abdula Akim Nabasa, said he was abducted by two ADF rebels in April 2000, who kept him together with 50 other captives at Nyakibingo forest in Kamwenge district. He said he later escaped from captivity and has since been hiding in Nyakitunda, Isingiro county from where the army arrested him. Godwin Muhimbira said he was tricked by the rebels into joining them on a trip to Bundigugyo where he would teach Fine Art in a secondary school. He was later forced into a rebel camp at Busaru. Ends