Security Agencies Rescue 11-Year-Old Recruited into ADF by Grandfather

The Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATT) picked up an 11-year-old who had been recruited by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Kibumbo Munimbu along Kibirizi village, Lake Katwe sub-county after he escaped from the ADF in DRC.

According to SCP Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, he had been taken by his grandfather Sulaid Muzungu and three other children from Erapa Nabirimba village, Buyende district. The parents of the victims are Muzamil Kibumba and Fatuma Nabirye.

"Arrangements are in place to hand over the victim, as we trace for the grandfather, who is an ADF rebel collaborator. We urge all parents to protect their children and stop handing them over to hostile collaborators, who recruit them into terrorist camps," said Enanga.

In a Monday, February 19 statement, Fred Enanga noted that due to the ongoing successful UPDF pursuit against the ADF rebels in the Eastern DRC, counter-terrorism task teams continue to remain alert and closely monitor the Western borderline for potential threats in the Rwenzori area, in coordination with the territorial Joint Security Teams.

"Although we do not have specific intelligence reflecting any new attacks along our Rwenzori axis with the DRC, we are monitoring ADF activities in Bukuka Hills across the border in the DRC, as well as acts of insecurity in Lhubirira Kasindi in Goma DRC, that occurred on the 12.12.2024," he said."

"We, therefore, call upon the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to our security teams. Our Joint Territorial teams continue to maintain a heightened posture, with patrols and increased visibility, to counter potential threats."

The police spokesman revealed that Uganda's territorial police in Rwenzori East and Mpondwe on December 2, 2024, at around 3pm arrested one Abdul Razak Bahati, a 28-year-old, ADF rebel of Todoli in the DRC, who was part of the group that sneaked into Uganda in November 2023, through Butunya – Ntoroko and carried out attacks in Kamwenge. Most of his colleagues were eliminated as operations targeting other remnants continued.