Uganda’s Government Extends Amnesty Offer to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) Rebels
Kampala – The Ugandan government has declared an amnesty offer for individuals associated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group, provided they renounce their involvement in rebellion activities against the government. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance, who serves as the cabinet spokesperson, made this announcement.
The amnesty offer is extended to those who were previously recruited into the ADF’s ranks but now desire to surrender and end their hostilities against the people of Uganda. However, the specific time frame for this opportunity was not specified.
The Amnesty Commission, a Ugandan government agency, has reported that over 30,000 former rebels who once took up arms against the state have been granted amnesty since the commission’s establishment in 2000.
Baryomunsi emphasized that those uninterested in the amnesty offer should anticipate engagement with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and Ugandan forces, as the pursuit of ADF rebels continues. The government is committed to defeating the ADF, reminiscent of the efforts that led to the defeat of the Lord’s Resistance Army under Joseph Kony. The Lord’s Resistance Army was a Ugandan rebel group that waged a 20-year insurgency until it was ousted from the country by the military in 2006, following unsuccessful peace negotiations.
After its expulsion, the LRA sought refuge in neighboring countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic. Since November 2021, Ugandan troops have been collaborating with their DRC counterparts to jointly combat ADF rebels.
