Uganda police say senior rebel commander arrested

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Ugandan security forces on Sunday said that they have arrested a senior commander of the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), a rebel group.

In a statement, Fred Enanga, a police spokesman, said the commander is identified as Ali Katende, codenamed Mao, who he said led the group which attacked the Busika police station on Oct. 31, killing three police officers.

Enanga said that three more ADF rebels were arrested and two others killed, adding that 1 PK machine gun, 7 sub-machine guns and a pistol were also recovered from the rebels’ hideout in Nyendo village, on the outskirts of the western city of Masaka.

Five more policemen and two soldiers were also killed in the attacks by ADF at different police stations and army barracks over the last 3 months, the police spokesman said.

“We want to reassure all Ugandans that the counter-terror operations, to prevent, disrupt and dismantle terror cells and activities of other hostile groups with violent ideologies, remain active and ongoing,” Enanga said.

ADF rebels originated from Uganda in the late 1990s where they attacked government forces with intention of overthrowing the government of incumbent President Yoweri Museveni. However, the Ugandan army overpowered them and they fled to eastern DR Congo from where they attack villages and also organize attacks on Uganda.