UPDF enlists support from locals to flash out ADF rebels

According to a report by the Daily Monitor newspaper, this was revealed by the commander of operations in Shuuja in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Maj. Gen. Dick Olum.

The Army General told the newspaper that this may not mean arming civilians and sending them to the frontlines, but rather relying on them to gather intelligence information.

“The Head of State, in his directive, does not intend for Wanainchi to be armed and sent to the frontlines to engage in combat with ADF rebels, he said.

He added, “As a strategist, he emphasises the importance of human intelligence, which involves people cooperating with the UPDF to provide information. Human intelligence is derived from the population, and this is our primary focus.”

President Museveni encouraged the UPDF to work with the police and the local community (Wananchi) to track down suspected ADF rebels who had crossed from DR Congo into Kasese in a social media post on X (previously Twitter) over the weekend.

"The UPDF should work with the police and the Wanainchi to track down these fugitives from Congo. They're no longer a military issue. They are as follows: police, public vigilance, and anti-terrorism measures. We're destroying their Congo base," he tweeted.

This follows an attack on tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park last week, as well as the torching of an onion-laden vehicle in Kasese District. The president reported that the UPDF bombed another ADF camp in the DRC on the same day (Saturday).