Police have said Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)

According to Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson, the ADF have active terrorist cells in Uganda and are waiting for a window of opportunity to strike again.

This revelation was made by Police, working in concert with sister security agencies, after unearthing suspected bomb making devices in Kiwamirembe in Kirigente Sub County – Mpigi district.

According to Enanga, searches were conducted in the homes of Siraji Senkungu and Muzafaru Kataza in the presence of Local Council (LC) 1 leaders and an unorganized collection of would-be weaponry was found.

“We managed to recover an assortment of exhibits of material value, including an SMG, and an AK47 with 16 rounds of live ammunition. We also got two logo books of two motorcycles under registration UEX 534B, and UEP 189X and an army green jacket, and bomb-making instruction materials,” he said.

In the context of this discovery, Enanga said that while most terrorists have gone to ground or are on the run, their ammunition is still accessible to them “in line with the ideological motive of causing fear, harm and violence against Ugandans and other citizens in the country.”

“These motorcycles (we found) are new, which shows that there are still plans of attacking other facilities and installations. We want to remind Ugandans that terror threats are real and remnants of ADF are still active. As a result, each and every one should remain vigilant and extra cautious as they go about their daily activities,” he said.

The ADF, which the United States and Uganda government deem to be a “terrorist” organisation, is reportedly the deadliest of 133 armed militias that roam the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In 1995, the ADF was formed by a coalition of rebel forces – including the Uganda Muslim Liberation Army and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) – to fight against President Museveni’s government.

Today, Islamic State, used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world, is linked to ADF.

After ADF allegedly bombed Kampala on November 16 last year, the Ugandan military announced the start of joint raids, along with its neighbour DRC, to smoke out the ADF in DRC.

The joint operation, codenamed Operation Shuja, is ongoing.