A Ugandan man charged with terrorism-related offenses has been accused of supporting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group allied with Islamic State (IS). Court documents reveal that Swalleh Abubakar, 31, was involved in recruiting fighters and financing the group.
The ADF, originally an uprising in Uganda, has operated from Congo since the late 1990s and pledged allegiance to IS in 2019. The group is notorious for frequent raids in eastern Congo, killing hundreds of villagers over the years.
Abubakar, extradited from Zambia last month, faced charges in a Kampala magistrate’s court on Monday, including “terrorism financing” and “rendering support to a terrorist organization.” He was not permitted to enter a plea, as his case requires a higher court trial. Following the reading of the charges, he was remanded to prison.
Prosecutors allege that Abubakar provided material support and recruited individuals for the ADF. The charge sheet details his activities between 2018 and April 2024, involving fund mobilization and procurement of items like digital watches and power banks across Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa. Additionally, Abubakar is accused of transferring these materials to the ADF, fully aware they would be used for terrorist activities.
Uganda has attributed several attacks to the ADF, including a triple suicide bombing in Kampala in 2021 that killed seven people, including the bombers. In June 2023, ADF fighters killed 37 people in a school attack near the Uganda-DRC border.
Meanwhile, West Africa’s main economic and political bloc has announced plans for more vigorous reconciliation efforts with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
editorial@examiner.co.ug
