2 ADF Bosses Killed

Two top Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel commanders have been killed by the UPDF in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo while 20 others surrendered to the army in Bwera, Kasese, reports John B Thawite. The rebels, who surrendered to the army on Thursday morning, named the dead commanders as Zirizovuma Muhammad Isabirye alias Tiger, the ADF chief of combat operations and Sulaiman Serunjogi of Butambala. According to the ADF Chief of Staff, Chris Tushabe Munyangondo alias Commander Benz, Serunjogi was the secretary for welfare. "One of his duties was to distribute women among the various ranks in the ADF," Benz said in Kasese yesterday afternoon. The rebel reporters, who include seven fighters and 13 members of their families, were led by commander Kisekedi Sibalingana from Kitwamba subcounty, Kasese district. They handed in three AK47 rifles with 142 bullets. They identified themselves as Mukandirwa Kathaliko of Kisololhwe in Karambi subcounty, Baluku Kabundu of Kaserengette in Bwera subcounty, and Marahemu Ikunga Bwambale of Bughoye subcounty. Others from the Ikunga family are Mubere Mumbere Ikanga and Thembo Ikanga, all from Bughoye subcounty, Busongora North, Kasese district. They said they were remnants of the defunct National Army for the Liberation of Uganda. The late Amon Bazira was its leader. They said they joined the Allied Democratic Forces in 1996. "We escaped from Kamunyu rebel camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo," they said. "We call on our colleagues still in the bush to come out," they said. The commander of the 13th battalion, Major Dula Mawa, pledged to strengthen his communication channels to ensure that all the rebels return home. The commander of the 2nd Division , Lt. Col. Tumusiime Nyakaitana, said the army had recently intensified its mop-up operations against the ADF rebels in and outside Uganda. Ends