Despite its strong military capabilities relative to the region, Uganda is, and has for years been vulnerable to terrorism ranging from the Somali based Al –Shabab extremists, the Allied Democratic Change ADF among others owing to porous borders, and a retaliation for its roles in fighting Islamists in Somalia
Uganda experienced the first terrorist incidents on home soil since the 2010 bombings where at least 74 people were killed in the twin bombings in Kampala as they watched the first ever world cup finals on African soil that was hosted by South Africa. The Somali Islamist movement al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombings. The militants, who claim links with al-Qaida, have four decades been trying to overthrow Somalia’s government, and have repeatedly threatened to attack Uganda as punishment for it leading the African Union peacekeeping mission (Amisom) in Mogadishu.
Four bombings in October and November of 2021 were attributed to and claimed by ISIS-DRC (also known in Uganda as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF. This prompted the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) to begin a joint operation with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in November 2021 to combat ISIS-DRC in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda also continued in its role as the top troop-contributing country to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in an international effort to combat al-Shabab in Somalia
Uganda has experienced general terrorist threats and a series of shootings of prominent people, including that of the assistant inspector general of police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, in 2017. The former commander of the Ugandan army (UPDF) and currently the Minister for Works and Transport, Katumba Wamala, survived an assassination attempt in June 2021 in an attack that left his daughter and driver dead, which have all been linked to ADF terrorist group
In June 2023, the ISIL linked ADF rebel group attacked Lubiriha secondary school in Kasese district on the extreme border point of Uganda and DRC and at least 38 students were killed in the attacks.
In October 2023, a couple involving a British businessman, David Barlow, his wife Celia, a South African-born hotel executive, and their Ugandan guide were driving through the Queen Elizabeth national park when they were attacked and killed by a group linked to Islamic State. The couple, who lived in Hampstead Norreys, a village near Newbury in Berkshire, were married in South Africa three days before their death and had been in Uganda on their honeymoon
On Monday night of 18th December 2023, At least 10 people are confirmed in an attack by ADF insurgents. According to preliminary findings by police, 10 armed assailants attacked and fatally burnt 10 people in Kyitehurizi trading center, Kyabandara parish in Kamwenge sub-county, located near Kibale National Park
Between 2019 and 2020, the US imposed sanctions on 6 top commanders of ADF over human rights abuses involving killings, rape, abduction and forced displacements in the Great Lakes region. Among those sanctioned included their commander Musa Baluku who took over command from his predecessor Jamil Mukulu who was arrested in Tanzania in 2014 and extradited for trial in Uganda, Muhamad Lumisa, 57, Amigo Kibirige who according to the Ugandan Intelligence reports in 2017 was the commander of Irunguin camp in Mwalika, Segujja alias Fezza who was the Chief of combat operations, Muhammad Kayira, the Chief Judge, and Amisi Kasadha alias Muzamir who was the ADF instructor.
In July this year, the European Union also sanctioned Ahmad Mahmood Hassan an ADF commander for being linked to the attacks on Mpondwe-Lhubiriha secondary school in Kasese district and for his atrocities in DRC
Amidst all these measures, the ADF threats have intensified and this calls for increased funding from Government and the International Community in partnership with global partners against terrorism.
The government of Uganda through the Ministry of finance, the Congolese government, the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the key defense and strategic partners in the global fight against terrorism like the USA and European Union should increase funding to the UPDF and Congolese military operations and aimed combating the terrorist threats both internally and externally. Undoubtedly, the funding builds capacity to face the ADF threat through creating vigilance amongst citizens and the security agencies, training and equipping manpower, and manning operations.
Sustainable and predictable funding is essential for the UPDF, the Ugandan Police and the intelligence agencies to increase on their capacity to perform their mandate consistently at the highest level and for greatest impact in accelerating eradication of ADF and terrorism both internally and outside borders.
Byamukama Richard Bard is a lawyer and a student of Security and Strategic Studies
