Summary:

• UPDF hands over 50 rescued abductees to FARDC, including 44 females and 6 males. The abductees received counseling and skills training in Kampala before resettling in their communities. Maj Gen Olum urges them to promote peace and utilize their skills for prosperity.

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has handed over 50 abductees rescued from the Allied Democratic Forces to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), comprising 44 females and 6 males.

The rescued were handed over last evening by Major General Dick Olum the overall Commander Operation Shujaa to the FARDC Beni Sector Second in Command Colonel Ekoko Bokeon who represented the Sector Commander in Kasindi, North Kivu Province, in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

They had received counselling, rehabilitation, and skills in Kampala to help them resettle in their communities with necessary life skills.

Maj Gen Olum urged them to be ambassadors of peace and utilize the life skills they attained to improve their livelihood for prosperity in their homes and communities

One of the rescued abductees on behalf of her colleagues, thanked the UPDF/FARDC for rescuing and rehabilitating them and facilitating efforts to rejoin them with their families and communities.

This is the 3rd time the UPDF is handing over rescued abductees to FARDC having handed over 34 and 26 rescued abductees in February and September 2023, respectively bringing the total number to 110 since the operation began.

FARDC also handed over four Ugandans including 03 males and 01 female who were rescues from ADF.