Summary:

• Suspected rebels linked to the Islamic State attacked Kyabandara Parish in Western Uganda, killing at least ten, including a local leader, looting shops, and burning a restaurant; the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), originally an anti-Kampala rebel group, has persisted in deadly attacks despite Uganda’s 2021 campaign against them in Congo.

A suspected rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State attacked an area in western Uganda late on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including a local leader, as reported by the area legislator to Reuters on Tuesday.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), originally established as an anti-Kampala rebel group in the mid-1990s, initially fought against President Yoweri Museveni’s government from bases in the Rwenzori mountains. On Monday around 10 p.m. (1900 GMT), the rebels targeted Kyabandara Parish in Kamwenge district in Western Uganda, according to lawmaker Cuthbert Abigaba.

During the attack, the rebels killed a local councillor operating a small roadside restaurant, along with four customers who had just started their meal. After the killings, the assailants set fire to the restaurant and looted nearby shops before fleeing, Abigaba stated.

Deo Akiiki, the deputy spokesperson for Uganda’s military, confirmed the attack, promising to provide additional details later.

The ADF, initially defeated by the army after its formation, sought refuge in eastern Congo, where it orchestrated deadly attacks in both Congo and Uganda. In 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, which had previously claimed responsibility for some of the group’s attacks.

Uganda initiated a ground and air campaign against the ADF in Congo in 2021, with President Museveni claiming success in eliminating a significant number of rebels, including commanders. Despite these efforts, the ADF has persisted in carrying out attacks, including on a school in Western Uganda resulting in numerous casualties, as well as an incident that claimed the lives of two foreign tourists and their Ugandan guide.

Kamwenge district, where the recent attack occurred, partially hosts Kibaale National Park, one of Uganda’s largest game reserves.