BY BOY FIDEL LEON
On Thursday, July 13, 2023, President Museveni will deliver a national address on terrorism and other matters of national importance.
The address will be aired on all TV and radio stations in the country at 8pm following the announcement made through his twitter handle. President Museveni tweeted,
Towards the end of next week, I will make a broadcast on anti-terrorism and crime. Stay tuned.”
The president is expected to provide an update on the joint operations between the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the ongoing war against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terror group. The ADF, which has been active in the region for years, has been responsible for numerous attacks in Uganda, including the recent attack on a UPDF military base that claimed the lives of 54 Ugandan soldiers.
The president’s address comes in the wake of a warning by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office of possible terrorist attacks in Uganda. The UK did not provide evidence to back up its claims, but it has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in the country. Such warnings have a negative impact on Uganda’s tourism sector and scare away potential investors.
In recent years, Uganda has experienced several terror attacks, including the November 2021 bombings in central Kampala that killed four people and injured 33 others.
This year in June, The ADF was also responsible for an attack on a school in Mpondwe, Kasese District, western Uganda, in June 2023, where 42 people were killed, 37 of which were children.
Ugandan security services have raised their level of alertness to prevent possible attacks by militants operating in the region. The president’s address is expected to provide reassurance to Ugandans on the government’s efforts to ensure the safety and security of the country.
The national address will be closely watched by Ugandans and the international community, as it will provide insights into the government’s strategy to combat terrorism and other security threats.