Uganda: Rebels Recruiting in Country – UN Report
Kampala Jan 04 2013 (SDN)- The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels have a wide network spreading across the East African region, a UN report has revealed.
The ADF rebels, according to the report, are closely working with Somalia’s al-Shabaab militia linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.
Al-Shabaab is a radical Islamist militant group that has been fighting against the UN and African Union-backed government of Somalia.
Uganda Police on Monday issued an alert saying it had received intelligence reports about the ADF’s plan to carry out terror attacks during the Christmas and New Year festivities in the country.
Chief of defence forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima mid-last month said ADF rebels were re-organising and had a fighting force of about 600 fighters under arms. He said the ADF are currently occupying areas around Eringeti, about 90km from the Uganda-DR Congo border.
Aronda said the ADF top commanders include Jamil Mukulu, Hood Lukwago, Amis Kasadha, Musa Baluku, Mohamed Kayiira, Filipo Bogere, Jamil Muzzanganda, adding that the group was reportedly recruiting in Mayuge, Iganga, Bugiri, Hoima and Arua districts.
The November 2012 UN report corroborates the reports by the Ugandan intelligence about the presence of ADF rebels in the eastern DR Congo.
The report of the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlights the activities of the armed groups in the eastern part of the country.
“During the year 2012, ADF has increased in strength to more than 1,300 combatants, of whom 800 are trained and well-equipped fighters,” the report says.
“The ADF military commander continues to be Hood Lukwago, while sanctioned individual Jamil Mukulu remains the supreme leader,” it adds.
The report says the Kenyan authorities believe that Mukulu is currently based in Tanzania.
“The Group has independently gathered several examples that support the assertions of the Government of Uganda that ADF collaborates with al-Shabaab in Somalia,” says the report.
Source: New vision