A Grandmother and two children were burnt to death on Christmas Day in western Uganda by suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) jihadist group after they raided a remote village in Kamwenge district, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to Kamwenge resident district commissioner Isiah Byarugaba, the rebels set fire to the house with the three victims trapped inside on Monday night.
Byarugaba added that security operatives within the community were on their toes to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are caught and dealt with.
“The ADF rebels killed three people, an old woman and her two grandchildren. They were burnt in their house last night.
“We are on the ground to assess the situation, and (are) mobilising the local community against such cowardly attacks by ADF terrorists against innocent civilians,” he said.
A resident of the community who was first to arrive at the scene of the incident on Tuesday morning, said there was no one in sight except the charred bodies of the victims found buried in ash, and the house completely razed to the ground.
He disclosed that on the eve of Christmas, residents noticed suspicious movements within the village and immediately alerted the security team.
He said the security responded by sending a patrol team to check around, but the team later left and assured them they would be back again. Unfortunately, the incident happened the next day, which was Christmas, with no security personnel in sight.
A week ago, the rebels launched a similar attack in the same district, leaving ten people dead.
The armed rebels carted away with food items, money and other valuables. They went ahead to burn down people’s homes and shops.
In November, the ADF leader was arrested after a night-time military operation led to the death of six, leaving him as the only survivor.
The arrest was in connection with the murder of two touring foreigners honeymooning in the country. The tourists were killed along with their local guide in a national park in October.
The group is accused of being responsible for thousands of peopled massacre. They are also said to orchestrate the burning of homes, schools, hospitals, churches, among other terror attacks in the conflict-ravaged region.
Few weeks ago, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni announced via his X handle that at least 200 ADF fighters had been killed by the Ugandan troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo during ongoing military operations aimed at repelling the militants.
