Rebels’ Attempt to Bomb Churches in Uganda Thwarted by Police

Ugandan police successfully stopped a bomb attack on churches by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group, which occurred approximately 31 miles away from the capital, Kampala, as announced by President Yoweri Museveni. The ADF had created two bombs with the intent of planting them in churches located in Kibibi and Butambala, according to President Museveni’s statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fortunately, the police received information about these explosive devices and managed to defuse them. This incident comes after a previous attempt in September when Ugandan police arrested a man suspected of trying to activate an explosive device in a Kampala cathedral.

The ADF is known to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, and it has been a cause for concern in the region. In June, ADF militia members committed a horrific attack in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 42 people lost their lives, including 37 students. This attack was one of the deadliest incidents in Uganda since the 2010 double attack in Kampala that killed 76 people, claimed by the Somali-based Islamist group, al-Shabaab.

To combat the ADF’s threat, Ugandan forces conducted air strikes against ADF positions in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. President Museveni reported that several terrorists were likely killed in these strikes. However, he also warned that the ADF could potentially carry out random acts of terrorism within Uganda in response to the airstrikes.

A United Nations expert panel on the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed in their June report that ISIS had been providing financial support to the ADF since at least 2019. The situation remains tense, with security forces remaining vigilant to prevent further attacks by rebel groups.