The Uganda People’s Defence Force-UPDF 5th Mountain Battalion under
the UPDF Mountain Division in Kasese and sister security agencies have intensified operations following the arrest of three suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels who had crossed into Uganda from DRC.
The trio were arrested on Thursday evening, April 20, 2023 in Kyogha village Bwera sub-county in Kasese district in an intelligence-led operation where 70 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.
The arrested are Majid Louis Maseruka, 31, Asuman Musa, 17, and Abdul Hamid, 23, all hailing from Mujumbi village Bukabwooli sub-county in Mayuge district.
Major Bilal Katamba, the spokesperson for Uganda’s military operations in DRC says the rebels are coming to Uganda as a result of increased pressure put on them by the joint operations in Eastern DRC in areas of Ituri and North Kivu.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. This is the second arrest in the same areas of Kasese in
a period of 3 months. In January 2023, two juveniles were among the three suspected ADF rebels arrested in Kikorongo, Kasese district. In December 2022, UPDF captured seven suspected ADF rebels in Kyobe, Bweramule sub-county in Ntoroko district.
Security have now encouraged rebels to hand themselves over to the different joint operation officers, explaining that running away with the aim of re-joining the community with their guns will not help them. Locals have also been asked to be vigilant and report all suspicious cases to police.
