The President of Uganda HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a serious warning to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels who have made it a daily business to attack Ugandans.

The President made the warning while addressing the nation on security matters where he also paraded some of the victims of the ADF who escaped from terrorist camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Formed by Jamil Mukulu in 1989, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) has claimed the lives of many Ugandans and destroyed properties resulting in displacements, especially in the western parts of the country.

They carried out their first attacks in 1995, a conflict which gradually intensified, culminating in the 1998 Kichwamba Technical College attack, which left 80 people dead, with 80 more being abducted. By 2002, continuous pressure from the Ugandan Army forced ADF to relocate most of its activities into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On a sad note, the group has since its formation launched several attacks on innocent civilians including the 17 June 2023 attack on Lubhiriha Secondary School in Kasese District which left 46 killed including 39 children. On 17 October, these also killed three people, including two foreign tourists, in Queen Elizabeth National Park plus several attacks despite the pressure from the UPDF Army.

Delivering his national address on security, President Museveni sounded a strong warning to the ADF rebels saying they cannot defeat the army which invests a lot in their hunt.

He said the ADF was defeated from the time DRC allowed Uganda’s army to enter Congo and will not move out until they are wiped out.

The President also paraded some of the victims of the Allied Democratic Forces who escaped from the rebel camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said the victims escaped at different times when Uganda’s UPDF were attacking the ADF camps in DRC.

The victims recounted how they were captured and tortured during captivity.

One victim Nansubuga Mariam, 20 years old, narrated how

 She ended up in  ADF camp as she was only 7 years old.

The President also commented on the pressures from the western countries with the recent being Uganda’s expulsion from AGOA Market by the USA due to its stand against homosexuality.

The President said that Uganda will not allow foreign countries to interfere in its internal affairs.

It should be noted that ever since the Allied Democratic Forces intensified its attacks on Ugandans, President Museveni and the UPDF have openly promised to defeat the insurgents and the results are yet to be witnessed.