The ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels have been engaging in a series of violent attacks across Eastern Africa, causing loss of lives and property damage. On the other hand, the UPDF (Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Force) has been working tirelessly to counter the ADF’s terrorism. However, quite alarming, the attack on Kasese School that left several dead and scores injured happened while the UPDF army barracks was only 2km away. This begs the question, how did the ADF rebels manage to attack the school despite the nearby presence of the fully equipped UPDF army barracks?
The ADF is a terrorist group that emerged in the 1990s in Western Uganda, allegedly founded to bring Islam to the region.Â
On the other hand, the UPDF is a military force of Uganda, responsible for the country’s defense. With a well-equipped army and years of experience under its belt, the force has been primarily involved in active counter-terrorism duty within the region, making it the ideal counter-terrorist force to combat the ADF’s insurgency.
The Kasese school tragedy occurred when ADF rebels stormed a school killing more than 40 people and injuring over 60 others. With the UPDF barracks stationed just 2km away, many people questioned how such an attack could occur. In the wake of the attack, various questions were raised by the public and security experts alike. The rebels were heavily armed and proceeded to the hostels, where they went room-to-room, brutalizing and killing the students they came across.
The first question that comes to mind is why the Kasese school was targeted? School attacks are often successful terrorism methods with the hope of causing substantial physical and psychological damage.
The second and more critical question is why the UPDF Army barracks stationed only 2km away could not intervene to prevent the attack. While the answer to this question is not as straightforward as one would like, experts narrowed down several probable factors that may have caused the attack’s success despite the nearby army barracks.
Intelligence Gaps: What Went Wrong?
The primary factor is the inadequate communication system that made it difficult for the army barracks to get a clear picture of the situation on the ground. This was caused by the lack of proper surveillance mechanisms, which made it impossible to gather any intelligence on the attacks.
The attacks revealed that there were gaping holes in UPDF Army’s intelligence networks. The Army had no idea that ADF rebels had infiltrated the area or were staying in near within, which left them vulnerable when the attack eventually happened.
Intelligence Gathering Failures
Gathering intelligence on ADF rebels is not an easy task. These are highly secretive and dangerous groups that operate in the shadows. It takes a lot of resources, expertise, and coordination to get accurate intelligence on them. The UPDF Army was found wanting in this aspect.
The army took too long to respond to the attacks probably due to the confusion that the ADF rebels had created. This lack of swiftness allowed the rebels to escape with ease, further compounding the tragedy.
In addition, the pressure that the UPDF has been facing in recent years due to the insurgency threat posed by the ADF. As a result, the UPDF may have overlooked some of its security duties, leading to a lapse in security measures.
Moving forward, it is essential to find the most viable solution that can prevent future terrorists’ attacks. One of the possible solutions is to enhance the communication system between the army barracks and neighboring civilians.
Generating accurate intelligence is at the core of any successful counterinsurgency strategy. As such, the UPDF Army needs to invest in intelligence networks that will provide them with up-to-date information about activities in the region.
Addressing locals atop his car, Maj Gen Olum said that the rebels had stayed with the area and planned to burn army vehicles but feared and instead changed plans to attack the school.
The attack on Kasese School caught everyone off guard, and it’s not difficult to see why. Despite being in close proximity to an army barracks, ADF rebels were still able to mount an attack and leave the region in shock.
With the UPDF being at the forefront of countering the ADF’S attacks, it is necessary to make changes in the communication and surveillance mechanisms to enhance security measures. The fight against terrorism can only be won by working together in a mece framework.
