Museveni urges Ugandans to keep calm amid terror threats

The President, who made the remarks during a national address at Nakasero State Lodge on Thursday, September 7, 2023, said that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia that has been suspected to be behind major terror attacks in Uganda was defeated a long time ago.

The ADF was finally defeated in 2007 just before the Commonwealth Conference when they tried to infiltrate the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 83 out of 100 of them were killed by commandos in Semiliki National Park. That was really the final blow to them as a military force. They went back to the Congo and stayed there. Now, if they were wise, they should have kept low and not tried to provoke the security forces of Uganda," he said.

Museveni’s remarks come against the backdrop of several terror attempts suspected to have been organised by the ADF that were foiled by Ugandan security agencies.

Last week, police arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of having entered Miracle Centre Church in Rubaga with an improvised explosive device (IED).

Police said six improvised explosive devices were defused, one in Nateete and the other in Bunamwaya, among others.

Responding to national security concerns last evening in a televised address, President Museveni said they knew the planners of the bomb attacks and were now searching for the executors.

In the meantime, the President has called for extra vigilance, especially by worship place managers, hotel management, bar owners, and landlords.

"The planners are in Congo; we are going for them. The Congo government has allowed us, and we are going to finish all these people (the ADF rebels). My purpose in talking to you now is to make you people not panic, thinking this is a big problem," Museveni said.

The US Embassy in Uganda has since issued a terror alert and advised its citizens to be vigilant.