The Ugandan military announced on Wednesday, its successful operation, resulting in the elimination of several militants affiliated with an Islamic State-linked organization. These militants were responsible for the tragic and senseless killing of a newlywed couple and their guide within a national park just last month.
On October 17, a group of armed individuals, believed to be associated with the rebel organization known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), launched an ambush in the vicinity of Queen Elizabeth National Park, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tragically, this ambush resulted in the loss of David and Celia Barlow, a newlywed couple, and their Ugandan guide, Eric Ayai.
Deo Akiiki, the deputy spokesman for the Ugandan military, reported that the ADF militants, whom authorities had been relentlessly pursuing since the assault on the tourists, were successfully apprehended and a significant number of them were neutralized during a nighttime operation on Lake Edward.
He further emphasized that the operation remains ongoing with the objective of dismantling all splinter groups affiliated with ADF. However, specific details regarding the exact number of casualties were not disclosed.
Originating as a movement in the early 1990s with the initial goal of opposing the Ugandan government, the ADF eventually faced military opposition and subsequently sought refuge in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There, it became entangled in illicit activities such as the smuggling of timber, gold, and agricultural products.