Uganda ADF school attack. How Islamic State has expanded into Central Africa -BBC News

Report at BBC News Africa
By Ashley Lime & Anne Okumu
BBC News, Mpondwe
Dated Sunday 18 June 2023 - full copy:

Uganda ADF school attack: 'Gospel songs interrupted by screaming'

Image caption,

Mary Masika, who lives opposite the school says she would often hear the students singing before bedtime

Pupils in Uganda were singing gospel songs before a deadly attack by Islamist militants on Friday, a woman who lives opposite the school says.

"Then I heard screaming," Mary Masika told the BBC. The vicious attack in Mpondwe left about 40 people dead.

Islamic State-linked militants have been blamed for the attack.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was created in the 1990s and took up arms against President Yoweri Museveni, alleging persecution of Muslims.

They are now largely based in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School attacked on Friday is close to the border.

Ms Masika says she and other residents have been left terrified by the attack which lasted about 90 minutes.

Warning: Contains details some readers may find distressing

"I have been unable to eat or sleep since then," she told the BBC in Swahili.

The students usually sing before bedtime - and at first she and her daughter thought the noise that interrupted their songs at around 22:00 (20:00 GMT) suggested that they were having a bit of fun.

But it soon became clear that something horrific was under way at the school, which had around 60 boarders living in a small compound.

ADF rebels had entered dormitories, setting fire to them and using machetes to kill and maim students.

One family in Mpondwe held the funerals on Sunday for a father and son killed in the attack - 47-year-old security guard Elphanas Mbusa and 17-year-old Masereka Elton.

Image caption,

Hurubana Kimadi Onesmus lost his son, a school watchman, and at least one of his grandsons - it is not clear if the other has been kidnapped

Their other son, 15-year-old Brian Muhindo who was also attending the school, is missing. They do not know if he is among the six boys kidnapped or one of those whose bodies cannot be identified because they have been so badly burned.

Hurubana Kimadi Onesmus told the BBC he found it difficult to understand how the attackers were able to infiltrate the school where his son, the security guard, worked and where his grandsons were studying.

"There is a very heavy military presence in the area," the 69-year-old said.

Image caption,

The BBC team were given a few minutes to photograph the scene at school in Mpondwe

Now there is a lot of security at the school - and the BBC team was given only a few minutes to take some photos of the burnt buildings.

It was a devastating and upsetting scene.

Lots of dried blood is still on the ground outside the girls' dormitory - they had been attacked with machetes and others shot dead as they ran away.

The boys' dormitory had been locked - they had either refused to open it to the rebels or they were locked inside by them. The militants poured fuel on the building and set it alight.

Inside, the smell of death is unmistakeable - beds have been reduced to wire mesh with pieces of flesh still stuck to them.

Image caption,

It is not clear if the doors of the boys' dormitory was locked by those inside or the rebels

Ms Masika said towards the end of the attack, at around 23:30, she heard one of the assailants talking at her gate and asking a fellow fighter if "the job was done".

They were talking in Swahili - the lingua franca in the region - and afterwards began shouting "Allahu Akbar", meaning "God is greatest".

She said after these chants one of them added: "We have succeeded in destabilising Museveni's country."

IMAGE SOURCE, 

AFP

Image caption,

Several funerals were held on Sunday for those killed in the attack

In response, President Museveni vowed to send more troops to Rwenzori Mountains, which are along the border between Uganda and the DR Congo, saying: "Their action... the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action... will not save them."

The area around Mpondwe seems to be a mix of Christians and Muslims. Some of those attending the funerals on Sunday were dressed in traditional Muslim attire.

Other funerals for the pupils killed in the attack were held in villages across the region, with most people dumbfounded and pained by the brutality of the assault.

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View original: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65945814

[Ends]

Ebola cases in Uganda - DR Congo is battling second largest Ebola outbreak in history

From UK Government Department for International Development

Press Release - June 13, 2019

Statement from Harriett Baldwin on Ebola in Uganda

International Development Minister comments on the cases of Ebola in Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 13, 2019/ -- Responding to the confirmation of Ebola cases in Uganda, International Development Minister and Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, said: "It is devastating to hear that cases of Ebola have now been confirmed in Uganda and tragically a child has lost their life". "The UK government has been the leading donor for Ebola preparedness in Uganda, training health workers on the ground and providing medical equipment to deal with this virus". "We stand ready to provide further support, but are also calling on the global community to step up. It is more important than ever that we work together to end this deadly outbreak". Background The Ugandan government has confirmed three cases of Ebola in the country. A five-year old boy has died as well as his 51-year old grandmother. The authorities have also identified eight contact cases. Since 2000, Uganda has had five Ebola outbreaks. In the last outbreak (2012), there were 24 reported cases and 17 deaths. Efforts to strengthen Uganda’s health system to be prepared for such outbreaks, including through UK support, means Uganda should be well placed to manage and respond to these new cases. UK aid has funded Uganda’s preparedness effort since the current Ebola outbreak began in August 2018. This has involved training for health workers, the provision of eight ambulances and sixty-three motorbikes to support the management of suspected cases, including in refugee settlements. As a leading donor, the UK is coordinating other international donors to support Government of Uganda’s plans to limit the possible spread of Ebola. This has included working closely with the EU, US and Ireland. UK experts have provided on the ground briefing to donor partners, using extensive knowledge of the disease to advise and guide the use of resources to prevent the spread of the disease. Public Health England (PHE) continues to assess that the risk to the UK from the outbreak is negligible-very low, even after the confirmed cases on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). DRC is battling the second largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first-ever in a conflict zone, with more than 70 armed groups operating in the east of the country. The number of cases has surpassed 2,000 and the death toll has reached 1,390. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department for International Development (DFID). SOURCE: UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/statement-from-harriett-baldwin-on-ebola-in-uganda?lang=en

Uganda offers to train DR Congo troops

THE Ugandan and Congolese armies are conducting joint operations against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in DR Congo and the Central African Republic.

Congolese troops fighting rebels from the Allied Defence Forces (ADF) in eastern DR Congo close to the Ugandan border are benefiting from Ugandan intelligence.

Ugandan Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and his Congolese counterpart, Charles Mwando, who will meet again in November, agreed to do everything possible to neutralise the LRA and the ADF, a joint statement said.

In another recent sign of willingness to cooperate, the Ugandan government in June arrested a rebel chief operating in eastern DR Congo, Gadi Ngabo, the head of the Patriotic Front for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).

Full story below.

Uganda offers to train DR.Congo troops
(AFP) – Tuesday, 21 September 2010

KAMPALA — Uganda has offered to train troops of the Democratic Republic of Congo, its former foe, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Felix Kulayigye said Tuesday.

"It is the first time that Uganda is offering her military academies to train Congolese government soldiers," Kulayigye told AFP, adding the offer followed a two-day bilateral meeting that ended Sunday in Kampala.

The meeting was between Ugandan Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and his Congolese counterpart, Charles Mwando.
In recent years Kampala has trained a plethora of Congolese rebel groups that fought in DR Congo against the Kinshasa government, other proxy groups or amongst themselves.

Kulayigye said it was too early to talk about the training timetable or the number of troops who will participate.

"Uganda offered training space at its military academies to DRC forces. The timetable is to be done by the Congolese when they are able to implement the decision," he said, adding that troop numbers still need to be worked out.

The meeting at the weekend was a follow-up to the Ngurdoto agreement signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Congolese counterpart, Joseph Kabila, in Tanzania in 2007 to normalise relations between the two countries.

The Ugandan and Congolese armies are conducting joint operations against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in DR Congo and the Central African Republic.

Congolese troops fighting rebels from the Allied Defence Forces (ADF) in eastern DR Congo close to the Ugandan border are benefiting from Ugandan intelligence.

The two ministers, who will meet again in November, agreed to do everything possible to neutralise the LRA and the ADF, a joint statement said.

In another recent sign of willingness to cooperate, the Ugandan government in June arrested a rebel chief operating in eastern DR Congo, Gadi Ngabo, the head of the Patriotic Front for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).

Ugandan troops and their rebel allies invaded DR Congo twice, in 1996 and again in 1998. Even after they withdrew in large numbers over the period 2002-2003, Ugandan troops have made numerous incursions into DR Congo, mostly in pursuit of LRA rebels.

2,000 Congolese crossed Ugandan border into Ishasha, Kanungu Nov 11 bringing total number of Congolese refugees who fled into Uganda to over 12,000

From UNHCR: Situation report No. 2 - Congolese refugee influx into Uganda 13 November 2008

Highlights

A further influx of some 2,000 refugees into Ishasha brings the total number of refugees who fled from DR congo into Uganda to over 12,000.

596 Congolese have been transferred to Nakivale on Wednesday 12 November 2009 and 693 will be transferred Thursday 13 November 2008.

Transit centres in Kisoro and Ishash are now fully functional.

Situation Overview

Continued violence in Eastern DRC caused a further influx of refugees into Uganda on Tuesday 11th November. Around 2,000 Congolese crossed the Ugandan border into Ishasha, Kanungu district, in the early hours of the morning. They said they had been walking for over two weeks before finally reaching refuge in Uganda.

This group of 2,000 new arrivals brings the total number of Congolese refugees who fled into Uganda to over 12,000.

A few hundreds Congolese, among the 2,000 new arrivals seem to have crossed back into DRC a few hours after their arrival, while a first group of 596 people has been transferred to Nakivale refugee settlement yesterday, Wednesday 12, and more busses will bring another group of the registered 693 additional people today, Thursday 13th, from Ishasha. One bus with around 60 people has left Kisoro for Nakivale.

The transit centres in Kisoro and Ishasha are now fully functional and they host on a daily basis all the refugees willing to relocate to Nakivale. In the Transit Centre, the refugees are offered a hot meal and water, in addition to some basic non food items (blankets, jerrycans and, in some instances, shelter material). Once arrived in Nakivale, the new arrivals are medically screened, registered and they are hosted in a reception centre. They receive kitchen sets, buckets, plastic sheeting, seeds and tools, to clear and cultivate the plots of land that the Government will eventually allocate to them if they decide to stay for a long period of time in Uganda.

Main Challenges

Lack of adequate water facilities in Ishasha Transit Centre has been a major challenge. Thanks to MSF France’s intervention, the group of 2,000 new arrivals have accessed safe water though a 50,000 litres water tank, installed yesterday Wednesday 12.

Humanitarian Response

Save the Children has deployed teams to Kisoro and Ishasha. The teams are supporting UNHCR in registering the newly arrived unaccompanied minors, who are being transferred to Nakivale. Save the Children also started a training in Child Protection for the Ugandan Red Cross volunteers working in Kisoro and is looking at training local authorities and other partners involved in the emergency response.

MSF France, Merlin, WHO and UNHCR have carried out an assessment of the health situation at the border areas and in Nakivale. MSF had also supported the referral of a few patients to the District Hospital in Mbarara. In Ishasha, MSF is starting to deliver medial care to the new arrivals and is going to install a few additional latrines in Ishasha Transit Centre.

The Uganda Red Cross in Kisoro continued to register the refugees willing to go to Nakivale, distributing the non food items provided by UNHCR. The URC has also supported the Kisoro District Authorities in assessing the needs of the self-settled refugees in Muko, Nteko and Busanza and has carried out a hygiene promotion campaign in the villages along the border where the refugees are being hosted. In Kanungu, URC supported UNHCR in registering the new arrivals and identifying the separated children. UNICEF has supported Kisoro District to provide three emergency drug kits (basic drugs, ringers lactate, syringes etc) and vaccines to St. Joseph Health Centre III to serve up to 10,000 people, and conduct routine immunization outreach with focus on polio and measles. Support was provided to the District to install and connect a 10,000-litre water tank to existing main supply and to install eight latrine stances and four bathing shelters at the transit centre. 25 water tanks (10,000 litre capacity) and 300 mobilets were pre-positioned in Kisoro, in the eventuality of a larger influx that would cause the opening of a biggest reception centre in Nyakabanda (Kisoro).

In Kanungu, UNICEF supported the district to establish a treatment and immunization site in the Ishasha trading centre.

WFP has provided food to be distributed in the Transit Centres in Kisoro and in Ishasha and is providing full food rations to all new arrivals getting established in Nakivale. In the event of a further influx, WFP has also pre-positioned food for an additional 30,000 people.

UNHCR continues to coordinate all emergency activities at the border areas (Kisoro and Ishasha) and the registration and delivery of assistance in Nakivale refugee settlement. The two transit centres at the border have been set up, although we are coordinating with other partners on improving the sanitation facilities and the water provision. We are organizing transport on a daily basis from the border to Nakivale, where, together with GTZ and the Office of the Prime Minister, the refugees are registered, screened and they receive all necessary assistance.

As a further influx of thousands more refugees is anticipated, UNHCR is coordinating with the Government of Uganda for the establishment of Reception Centres with a capacity of up to 10,000 people both in Kisoro and in Kanungu. Meanwhile, UNHCR is strengthening its reception capacity in Nakivale and preparing for the identification of a second refugee settlement that would accommodate the new arrivals, when Nakivale’s capacity is exhausted.

Coordination

Weekly coordination meetings are held in UNHCR Conference room. Yesterday, Wednesday 12, UNHCR and the State Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Relief and refugees organized a Donor Mission to the Ishasha border.

SOURCE: http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net/f/article.php3?id_article=1402