Kamwenge, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — On Christmas Day in western Uganda, militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) jihadist group perpetrated a gruesome act, burning a grandmother and two children to death, as reported by local officials on Tuesday.
A week prior to this appalling incident, the same area had already witnessed tragedy, with 10 people falling victim to the ADF, a lethal militia linked to the Islamic State group.
During the Christmas Day assault in a remote village of Kamwenge district, the residence of Adrine Ngwabiiji, 78, and his two grandchildren was set ablaze by the militants, according to Kamwenge Resident District Commissioner, Isaiah Byarugaba Kanyamahane.
Confirming the horrifying event, Byarugaba stated, “It’s true three people were killed by ADF rebels, and their house was burnt. I am at the scene establishing more facts.”
Efforts were immediately initiated to determine if there were additional casualties at the time of composing this report.
A first responder, arriving at the scene around 6 am on Tuesday, described discovering the house already burnt, with the victims’ charred bodies buried in the ash.
Recounting the events leading up to the attack, a resident revealed, “Yesterday (Monday), we reported to the police after seeing suspicious people in the village. They sent their patrol team, but after a few hours, they left and promised to return today (Tuesday) with their canine dogs. But by the time I arrived here, there were no security personnel.”
This tragic incident follows closely on the heels of another assault in Kitehurizi village, Kyabandara parish, Kamwenge Sub County, where 10 individuals lost their lives. The attackers, suspected militants, not only took lives but also looted foodstuffs and money while setting houses ablaze.
Border areas neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly Kasese District, have witnessed similar attacks in recent days. President Museveni, on multiple occasions, has characterized the assailants as “pigs” and vowed to crush them, assuring the nation that the ADF had been defeated.
According to the president, these attackers are “remnants of a defeated ADF group in DRC,” fleeing from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). In November 2021, a joint operation with the Congolese national army was launched against the militants.
