Increased security likely in Kasese District after assailants kill foreign nationals in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park Oct. 17.
Authorities in Uganda are likely maintaining an elevated security posture in the Kasese District after Assailants ambushed a tourist vehicle in Queen Elizabeth National Park along Katwe Road on Oct. 17, killing two foreign nationals and a Ugandan. Local officials confirmed the attack and launched a security operation to track the assailants. While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident, authorities suspect the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are responsible
Authorities are likely imposing heightened security measures, such as checkpoints in the affected areas. Security-related operations could result in localized transport disruptions. Additional attacks cannot be ruled out.
Uganda faces a threat nationwide from terrorist groups such as the ADF. Officials have attributed several attacks, including the most recent Oct. 17 tourist vehicle assault in the Kasese District and an attack against a commercial vehicle that left several people dead in the Katojo area on Oct. 13, to ADF militants. Although initially a Ugandan-based group, the ADF operates mainly in the DRC’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces, where it has been implicated in dozens of attacks, including bombings. The ADF was also blamed for suicide bombings in Kampala in late 2021. In the aftermath, Uganda launched a joint security operation (operation Shujja) with DRC at border areas against ADF strongholds; hundreds of militants were reportedly killed since 2021.
Advice: Exercise caution near potential attack targets, including tourist destinations, markets, security installations, and other crowded or sensitive locations. Plan for possible localized disruptions proximate to DRC border areas. Remain cooperative if stopped for checks. Foreign nationals should always carry their passports, as well as register and maintain contact with their diplomatic missions. Heed all official security and transport advisories.
The United Kingdom on Wednesday advised its citizens to avoid Uganda’s famous Queen Elizabeth National Park after three people, including a British national, were killed the previous day by ADF rebels. However, in the view of Uganda, this is not necessary, the area of Queen Elizabeth is under high level surveillance and will remain a safe place to visit.
In its advice to travelers, the British government “advises against all but essential travel to this park” in the south-west of the country, which is very popular with tourists.
“If you are currently in the park, you should follow the advice of the local security authorities. If you are able to do so safely, you should consider leaving the area”, they added, stressing that “the assailants are still at large”.
The Ugandan authorities announced on Tuesday evening that three people, including British and South African nationals, and their Ugandan guide, had been killed while travelling in Queen Elizabeth Park, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The police attributed the attack to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia group based in the east of the DRC that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.
The government of Uganda and its forces have a reputation of providing good protection to areas infested with militia attacks even outside Uganda. No doubt, there will remain peace in Queen Elizabeth National Park and all the other National Parks in Uganda.
Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism 