In a harrowing incident that unfolded in the dark hours of Friday at approximately 1:00 am, suspected militiamen from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group launched a brazen attack on a trailer transporting onions from Kisoro District to the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Border in Kasese District, resulting in the tragic death of one person and the injury of another.
The attackers, numbering around five, ambushed the trailer, ruthlessly setting it ablaze after fatally shooting one of its occupants, and severely injuring another. The details surrounding this alarming attack were confirmed by Col Deo Akiiki, the UPDF Deputy Spokesperson.
According to Col Akiiki, the grim event took place at Katojo Junction along the Bwera-Kinyamaseke-Kasese Road in Kasese District. The trailer was occupied by four individuals, with one male occupant tragically losing his life to gunfire, while another was rushed to Bwera Hospital for critical medical attention due to severe injuries. Fortunately, a female occupant emerged unscathed from the ordeal, yet the whereabouts of the fourth male occupant remain unknown.
In response to this unsettling incident, UPDF soldiers are actively engaged in a relentless pursuit of the attackers, with further updates expected as the situation continues to evolve.
This recent event marks the second attack within a week attributed to the ADF rebel group. Just last Friday, they attempted an assault on Nyabugando 1 cell, Nyabugando Ward in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town.
Their nefarious plans were thwarted, however, by the vigilance and readiness of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers stationed in the area.
Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, who plays a pivotal role in overseeing security in the region, revealed that intelligence reports had indicated the ADF’s sinister intentions to infiltrate the country and plunder medicines from nearby healthcare facilities, particularly targeting Mamasabina Orthodox Community Health Centre and Nyabugando Health Centre III. This attempted incursion coincided with the replenishment of supplies in these healthcare centers, making it a matter of significant concern.
This troubling incident is a stark reminder of the continuous threat posed by the ADF rebels in the region. On June 16, suspected ADF rebels crossed over from the Democratic Republic of Congo and unleashed a horrifying attack on Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School, resulting in the tragic loss of 38 students and six other members of the community.
The security situation in Kasese District remains dynamic, and the Ugandan authorities are actively working to combat the ongoing threat posed by the ADF rebel group.
