ADF Suspect Arrested in Mpondwe as JATT Rescues Boy from Rebels

Security forces have arrested a suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel during operations in the Rwenzori region.

According to SCP Fred Enanga, Police Spokesperson, the territorial police in Rwenzori East and Mpondwe on February 12, 2024, at around 3 pm, arrested one Bahati Abdul Razak, a 28-year-old, ADF rebel of Todoli in the DRC.

According to Enanga, Bahati was part of the group that sneaked into Uganda in November 2023, through Butunya – Ntoroko and carried out attacks in Kamwenge.

“Most of his colleagues were eliminated, as operations targeting other remnants continue. Due to the ongoing successful UPDF pursuit against the ADF rebels in the Eastern DRC, police counter-terrorism task teams continue to remain alert and closely monitor the Western borderline, for potential threats in the Rwenzori area, in coordination with our territorial Joint Security Teams,” Enanga told the press in Kampala on Monday.

He said although they do not have specific intelligence reflecting any new attacks along the Rwenzori axis with the DRC, security forces are monitoring ADF activities in Bukuka Hills across the border in the DRC, as well as acts of insecurity in Lhubirira Kasindi in Goma.

“We, therefore, call upon the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to our security teams.”

He said the Joint Territorial teams continue to maintain a heightened posture, with patrols and increased visibility, to counter potential threats.

In a separate development, the JATT recovered an 11-year-old, ADF recruit, Kibumbo Munimbu, along Kibirizi village, Lake Katwe sub-county.

This was after he escaped from the ADF in DRC where he had been taken by his grandfather Muzungu Sulaid and three other children from Erapa Nabirimba village, Buyende district.

Enanga identified the parents of the victim as Kibumba Muzamil and Nabirye Fatuma.

“Arrangements are in place to hand over the victim, as we trace for the grandfather, who is an ADF rebel collaborator. We urge all parents to protect their children, and stop handing them over to hostile collaborators, who recruit them into terrorism camps,” he noted.