Five individuals believed to be operatives of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been apprehended in an ongoing operation led by joint security forces. The arrests took place in various locations, revealing a coordinated effort by the security forces.
Three suspects were detained in Kasese district, where items such as a tent, pangas, and solar panels were seized. Another individual was arrested near Kaswabuli Secondary School at Bukonte in Namutumba district, allegedly disguising as a lunatic. Additionally, a suspect in possession of explosives suspected to be used in bomb-making was picked up in Masindi.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga disclosed these details during a media briefing at Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Tuesday.
The arrests come in the wake of two suspected ADF-orchestrated attacks in Kamwenge district in late December 2023. The first attack occurred on December 18, claiming 10 lives, while the second on Christmas Day resulted in three fatalities.
President Yoweri Museveni, in his post-Christmas message on December 28, 2023, warned the ADF against disrupting the country’s harmony and attempting to impose sharia law on Uganda. He emphasized the country’s strong heritage and rejected any attempts to transform Uganda into a European or Arab state.
As a response to the attacks, President Museveni directed the reactivation of Local Defence Units (LDUs) in areas surrounding key national parks and forests. The LDUs are intended to enhance security and transform vulnerable civilian areas into fortified local hard points to counter terrorist attacks on unarmed civilians.
