At least five killed in suspected rebel attack in Uganda

Kampala — At least five people were killed, including a local leader, after suspected rebels from a group allied to Islamic State attacked an area in western Uganda late on Monday, the area legislator told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was formed as an anti-Kampala rebel group in the mid-1990s and initially battled the government of President Yoweri Museveni from bases in the Rwenzori mountains.

On Monday, the rebels attacked Kyabandara Parish in Kamwenge district in Western Uganda at around 10pm, said MP Cuthbert Abigaba.

The attackers then killed a local councillor whom they found in a small roadside restaurant she operated alongside four of her clients who had just sat down for a meal, he said.

“After the killing they burnt the restaurant and also proceeded and looted items from nearby shops before fleeing,” he said.

The deputy spokesperson for Uganda’s military, Deo Akiiki, confirmed attack and said they would give details later.

After its formation, the ADF was eventually routed by the army and remnants fled into eastern Congo where they have since orchestrated deadly attacks both in Congo and Uganda.

The ADF in 2019 pledged allegiance to IS, which has previously claimed responsibility for some of ADF’s attacks.

Uganda launched a ground and air campaign against the ADF in Congo in 2021. Museveni has said the operation has succeeded in killing a large number of rebels, including some commanders.

The group has continued to carry out attacks including on a school in Western Uganda in which dozens died and another that killed two foreign tourists and their Ugandan tour guide.

Kamwenge district partially hosts Kibaale National Park, one of Uganda’s biggest game reserves.

Reuters