Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) captured 15 terrorists alive and killed 21 during a fire exchange in Ntoroko district, President Yoweri Museveni said during a national address on Tuesday.
UPDF, who were working with FARDC, retrieved 17 SMGs, two PK machine guns, four IEDs, 337 rounds (bullets) of SMGS, 75 rounds of PK machine guns, 15 mobile phones, and five walkie-talkies.
The terrorists invaded Uganda via River Semuliki.
On December 13, at around 6am, locals in Kyapa village, Bweramure sub-county in Ntoroko telephoned UPDF border detaches of Kyapa and Kayaja 1 informing them of the invasion and the Commanding Officer 8 Mt. Battalion Lt. Col. Saul Bishusha Nabimanya organized assault squads to approach from four routes.
They intercepted the enemy around the villages of Kyapa, Kyobe, Kayaja 2 and Bweramure junction.
The terrorists had come from Mambasa territory at River Ituri in Ituri province in a bigger group which crossed Eringeti-Komanda Road and entered Irumu territory to areas of Tokomeka and Belu 2.
One of the terrorist groups was commanded by one Mzee Mayor and another called Rafiki, and they were advancing to join another enemy commander called Muhammad Lumisa at a place called Maitatu.
Lumisa sent this group of 40 fighters to come to Uganda, kill civilians and loot their properties.
According to Museveni, UPDF lost one soldier, another was injured during the shelling.
One civilian was killed and two injured, according to the president, who also revealed that so far, out of the 40 attackers who crossed to Uganda, 36 are well accounted for.
Combing operations are underway to account for the other four who are suspected to have drowned in River Semuliki.
