Militants belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) jihadist group reportedly set a home ablaze on Christmas Day in a remote village in Uganda’s Kamwenge district, resulting in the tragic deaths of a grandmother and two children, according to local officials on Tuesday.
The incident occurred just a week after the same group claimed responsibility for killing 10 individuals in the same region, linking the ADF to the Islamic State group.
Isiah Byarugaba, the resident district commissioner of Kamwenge, informed AFP that the assailants targeted a house with the victims inside, stating, “The ADF rebels killed three people, an old woman and her two grandchildren.
They were burnt in their house last night.”
The authorities, including the army and police, are actively pursuing the attackers, aiming to assess and address the situation, while also mobilizing the local community against such heinous acts by ADF terrorists targeting innocent civilians.
The ADF, originally a coalition of armed Ugandan groups with a Muslim-majority affiliation, is recognized by the Islamic State as its central African affiliate.
Despite joint military operations launched by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda against the ADF in November 2021, the rebel attacks persist.
The ADF stands accused of massacring thousands of civilians in the DRC and carrying out jihadist attacks on Ugandan soil.
The tragic events on Christmas Day followed a similar ADF attack on December 19, where the militants claimed the lives of 10 people at a trading post in Kamwenge, near the border with the DRC.
The ongoing violence has raised concerns, as the ADF continues to pose a threat to the region despite military efforts to counter their activities.
The Islamic State’s affiliation with the ADF underscores the gravity of the situation, with the group extending its influence beyond borders.
Previous attacks, including the killing of honeymooners and a guide in October during a safari in western Uganda, as well as the massacre of students at a school in western Uganda in June, have been attributed to the ADF.
The persistent violence underscores the need for continued efforts to address the threat posed by the ADF and protect the safety of civilians in the region.
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