The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) successfully eliminated 11 suspected terrorists, including individuals responsible for the tragic murder of two tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
The UPDF sprang into action on October 17, launching a manhunt after the attackers not only killed the tourists but also the driver of the tourist vehicle, which they subsequently set ablaze on the Katunguru-Mweya-Katwe road in Kasese district. This area of attack is situated near the Uganda-DR Congo border, approximately 360 kilometers from the nation’s capital, Kampala city.
The assailants were found to have affiliations with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group known to have operational bases within the Democratic Republic of Congo, as confirmed by the UPDF.
On the following day, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy army spokesperson, reported that a significant development had occurred. A group of ADF terrorists, who had been under surveillance since the tourist attack, were located and subsequently neutralized on Lake Edward, near Kayanja landing site in Kasese district.
This operation was conducted with a high level of intelligence, involving a well-coordinated night operation that brought together various units of the UPDF, including the UPDF marine, special forces, and infantry squads from the 222nd and 301st Brigades. It is crucial to note that these individuals were part of the group responsible for the tourist’s deaths.
Lt Col Akiiki emphasized that the operation is still ongoing, with the objective of eliminating all remaining splinter groups affiliated with the ADF. The UPDF remains dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s security and ensuring that such acts of violence are dealt with effectively.