President Museveni has finally broken his silence regarding the horrific attack by ADF rebels on Lhubirira Secondary School in Mpondwe, a border town in western Uganda.
The Friday night assault claimed the lives of over 40 students and resulted in the abduction of numerous others. In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, the president condemned the cowardly act perpetrated by the rebel group, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
Expressing his disappointment, President Museveni questioned the rebels' choice of target and urged them to engage in honorable combat. He wondered why the ADF did not confront the nearby UPDF detachment, located only 3 kilometers away.
The president emphasized that if the rebels were truly fighters, they would engage in army-to-army warfare, akin to the historical battles fought by the National Resistance Army (NRA), rather than resorting to acts of terrorism.
President Museveni revealed that the joint efforts of the Ugandan and Congolese armies, including air and artillery strikes, as well as ground offensives, have caused significant disarray among the ADF. The terrorist group has fragmented into smaller units, taking refuge in the vast area west of the Rwenzori Mountains, particularly beyond the Beni-Eringeti-Komanda-Bunya Road. Their intention is to evade detection by dispersing into smaller groups.
The president described the ADF's tactics as desperate, futile, criminal, and terrorist in nature. He explained that their strategy involves fleeing Congo, reentering Uganda, and targeting unarmed civilians to force a recall of the Ugandan army from Congo.
The ADF hopes that such a move would divert attention and resources away from their suffering in the face of recent losses. President Museveni drew parallels between the recent attack and a similar incident in Ntoroko on December 13, 2022, when 51 ADF members entered the area with the same destructive plan.
While the Ugandan army initially focused on eliminating larger ADF groups west of the Rwenzori, recent successes have prompted a shift in strategy. Forces are now targeting smaller factions situated south of the mountains, specifically in the Mwalika Valley near Biruunga National Park, which lies across Lake Edward in Congo's Rutshuru and Butuumbi regions.
The president cited the successful elimination of Mulaalo, a commander of one such group, one and a half months ago, as well as the earlier killing of Rubaanga, a quartermaster, in April. He highlighted the attackers' desperation and cowardice in targeting a school as a result.
President Museveni acknowledged the need for vigilance and alertness among the local population, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in thwarting such attacks. He referenced the failed attempt in Ntoroko, where the vigilance of the people prevented the ADF from achieving their objectives.
To address the security challenges in the region, President Museveni announced plans to deploy additional troops to the area south of the Rwenzori Mountains. He pledged to close any gaps and intensify operations against the ADF.
However, the president raised several questions regarding the Friday night attack, including the lack of an alarm, the response of nearby security personnel, and the absence of intelligence on the splinter group from the Congolese side.
President Museveni assured the public that the ADF's cowardly and desperate actions would not save them. He reaffirmed the commitment to bring new forces to the Ugandan side while continuing operations on the Congolese side to track down the group's new leader, the Arab Abua-Kasi, as well as the elusive Amigo.
The government remains resolute in its determination to protect the lives and security of Ugandan citizens, promising swift and decisive action against the ADF and other threats in the region.
