President Museveni expressed admiration for the bravery of a young girl who managed to escape ruthless Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)rebels during an attack in Kamwenge District on Monday.
According to preliminary findings, 10 armed suspected ADF rebels attacked and fatally burnt 10 people in Kyitehurizi trading center, Kyabandara parish in Kamwenge sub-county, located near Kibale National Park. The attackers not only took the lives of the victims but also engaged in looting, breaking into the store of Baguma Richard, 35 years old. They stole 300 kgs of beans, a sack of Irish potatoes, 03 trays of eggs, and 50 kgs of maize from the store. Additionally, they set ablaze a motorcycle with the registration number UFC 851T.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the President revealed that the terrorists chose to use machetes (pangas) instead of bullets to avoid alerting the population, which is known to be hostile to them.
The President announced his intention to meet the courageous girl soon, acknowledging her role in alerting the community about the attackers.
President Museveni commended the girl’s escape, emphasizing that others might have followed suit if they had been sensitized not to be passive when confronted by such threats.
“One young girl escaped from the killers. More could have escaped if they had been sensitized not to be docile when confronted by these killers.” he wrote
Expressing gratitude for the girl’s bravery, President Museveni stated, “She is the one that alerted the area. I have asked the Woman MP and the SHC to bring her to me so that I meet her and thank her for her bravery.”
Adding that: “I have directed the State House Comptroller (SHC) to send financial support to each of the families that lost their loved ones in Kamwengye and also to the girl who escaped from the killers and reported the incident”
The President confirmed that the gangsters’ were remnants of the Njovu-Kamusu group, which had entered Uganda from Congo a few weeks prior, stating that they are responsible for killing children at Nyabugaando School, murdering two tourists and their driver, and burning an onion truck.