President Museveni delivered a significant update during his State of the Nation address, revealing that the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) and FADRC (Congolese Armed Forces) have successfully neutralized more than 500 ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) combatants. The joint operation, codenamed “Operation Shujaa,” has been underway for two years in the Congo forests.
Since the launch of “Operation Shujaa” in November 2021, President Museveni reported that a total of 508 ADF fighters have been put out of action. Additionally, 50 fighters were captured alive, 90 abductees were rescued, and 20 defectors were received. The combined efforts of the UPDF and FADRC have resulted in significant progress against the ADF insurgency.
The President highlighted the recovery of a substantial cache of weaponry, including 109 SMGs (submachine guns), five PKMs (PK machine guns), and three RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades). These weapons, seized from the ADF, pose a significant threat reduction to regional security.
In March of this year, the UPDF successfully neutralized 29 ADF fighters who had launched an attack on the Ntoroko district. The operation resulted in the recovery of nine SMG rifles from the ADF fighters.
The joint operations between Uganda and the DRC were initiated in response to a series of terror attacks in Kampala, which claimed the lives of more than 10 individuals and left numerous others injured. These coordinated efforts have led to the destruction of multiple ADF camps and the liberation of areas previously under the group’s control within the Democratic Republic of Congo.