UPDF, Congolese army kill 4 ADF rebels

The  Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Congolese army on Monday afternoon attacked an  Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel camp in Bundihangaro, north of Nobili, eastern DR Congo, and killed four rebels.

Maj Peter Mugisa, the public information officer of Operation Shujaa, the joint UPDF-DR Congo  army operation against ADF,  said the soldiers were tipped off by residents.

“Our joint forces conducting Operation Shujaa got a tip from villagers and they were able to locate an ADF rebel camp that was estimated to have about 30 rebels, our forces raided the camp and killed four rebels,” he said.

He added that they also recovered two guns, one RPG bomb, seven goats, sauce pans, and DR Congo army uniforms. 

“We are very grateful to the villagers who reported the presence of ADF rebels in their area and we encourage others to do the same so that we eliminate and stop this mayhem,” he said.

Maj Mugisa said on Sunday night, the ADF rebels attacked Kayenjye Village between Nobili border and Kamango Town and killed a boda boda rider, burnt two houses and stole goats and chicken.

He said on Monday the ADF rebels moved north of Kamango Town into Bundihangaro about six kilometres  north of Nobili border and five kilometres east of Kamango Town, where they abducted six civilians from their gardens and killed them.

“We expect more bodies of ADF rebels to be found in the surrounding areas as the search is going on. These are rebels that have been terrorising the population in Nobili areas,” he said.

On February 2, the ADF and CODECO militants attacked Nobili, Njiapande Town, and Balu in DR Congo and killed 64 people.

More than 1,500 Congolese refugees crossed to Uganda and took refuge in Bundibugyo District at Bubukwanga refugee transit centre.

Last Wednesday, the joint forces captured Boga airfield from the ADF rebels.

The capturing of the airfield that the rebels were using as a hideout, came after the UPDF soldiers under the command of Maj Gen Muhanga Kayanja launched the second phase route approach starting at Haibale Landing Site on River Semliki in Ntoroko District, crossing to Burasi-Boga in DR Congo.

About operation shujaa
On  November 20, last year, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) launched airstrikes against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in eastern DR Congo after agreeing to start joint operations with DR Congo army.

The joint operation Shujaa started with phase one when UPDF used Nobili –Kamango- Mukakati route, to join their counterparts FARDC on December 1, 2021.

This preceded the assault force advancing deep into Virunga impenetrable forest, dislodging ADF rebels in several camps, including their stronghold of Kambi Ya Yua where various military hardware and documents were recovered. 

Last month, the joint forces opened up the second axis against the ADF rebels.