Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Bomb attacks on churches by ADF jihadists were thwarted in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni announced. The ADF rebels, aligning with the Islamic State group, intended to plant two explosive devices in Kibibi’s churches, but the plan was reported to the police and the threat neutralized, as per the Ugandan head of state.
President Museveni, ruling Uganda since 1986, confirmed Ugandan forces’ airstrike against ADF positions in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo the day before. The results of the operation, although reportedly resulting in the death of many terrorists, were not elaborated further.
He also cautioned about potential retaliatory “random acts of terrorism” by ADF within Uganda post these air strikes.
Earlier in September, Ugandan police claimed to have foiled a bomb attack on a cathedral in Kampala and arrested a suspect attempting to activate the explosive device among worshippers.
In June, ADF members carried out a devastating attack at a secondary school in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming the lives of 42 individuals, including 37 pupils.
This incident marked Uganda’s deadliest attack since the 2010 twin bombings in Kampala, which claimed 76 lives and were claimed by the Somali-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab.
In a recent June report, the UN Group of Experts on the DRC revealed that the Islamic State had been providing financial support to ADF since 2019, utilizing a complex financial system spanning several African countries.
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Originally a rebel group mainly comprised of Ugandan Muslims and established in the DRC since the 1990s, the ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019. The ISIS presents them as its “Central African province” (Iscap in English), claiming responsibility for some of their actions.
Despite a joint offensive by Uganda and the DRC in 2021 to drive the ADF out of their Congolese strongholds, the group’s attacks persist, as a conclusive end to their activities has remained elusive.
Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu.
Greetings.This is to inform you that yesterday, the 14th of October, 2023, our fighter-bombers paid a visit to the ADF terrorists at 4 different points. These points were at: 72kms, 120kms, 69kms and 130kms from the border on the… pic.twitter.com/QYyzHyGOXd
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 15, 2023
