Uganda’s army spokesperson has confirmed reports that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked the western district of Ntoroko resulting in the death of 11.
In a tweet made by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Spokesperson, the rebels who were between 20-30 in number, “crossed River Semuliki into Kyanja in Ntoroko district” on Monday night.
“Our intelligence got wind of them and they were intercepted. A fight is on to decisively deal with the group. 11 of them have been put out of Action,” the UPDF Spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Social media sites have been awash with short video clips and photos showing civilians fleeing the area of attack in Ntoroko district.
ADF, an Islamist rebel group, has been largely operating in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uganda’s army deployed in the DRC late last year to hunt the rebels after a series of bomb attacks in the country. The UPDF operation codenamed “shujaa” is still on in the DRC.
The group launched its first attack in Kasese district, November 1996, wrecking havoc in western Uganda before it was defeated in the mid 2000s.
Ntoroko’s attack comes on the heels of tension in the eastern DRC where ADF and other rebel groups operate. It has also renewed fears the group could be planning an onslaught on Uganda, reminiscent to that of 1996.
It also follows a spate of attacks by unknown gunmen on security installations across the country that have seen police posts attacked and guns stolen.
