The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have rescued ten individuals, including five women and five children, from the clutches of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Major Bilal Katamba, the spokesperson for Uganda’s military operations in DRC said that the successful rescue mission, code-named “Operation Shujaa,” unfolded after a confrontation with ADF terrorists at River Asefu in North Kivu province.
During the intense firefight, two women sustained injuries and were promptly airlifted to Muhoti Military Barracks for specialised medical attention. The malnourished children are also receiving critical care from the UPDF medical team.
“We continue to pursue details. The joint forces were able to rescue ten people including five women and five children. This was after the joint forces got contacts from people near River Asefu in North Kivu after fire fights. Unfortunately, two women were injured in the exchange of fire. The injured were flown to Mukoti barracks in Uganda. We believe with the professional medical attention they will receive from the UPDF medical team they will be out of danger and fine,” Katamba said.
He added, “With a lot of other risk factors, these women are married to the commanders, when one commander dies another commander inherits the woman and the cycle continues like that.”
Among those rescued is 32-year-old Atukwase Katushabe Jamilah, who was coerced into rebel activities in 2008 from Nabweru Division, Wakiso district. Jamilah was subjected to forced marriages with multiple ADF commanders and was reunited with her 6-year-old daughter, Rahima, during the rescue.
Katamba urged all terrorists who could be hearing the UPDF message to come out and surrender to the forces in any of the detaches
He also called upon Ugandans and Congolese to support the operation so that there is total peace to ease trade and prosperity between the two countries.
The joint forces continue to pursue the scattered ADF terrorists, who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Central Africa Province (ISCAP), an affiliate of ISIS.
