Operation Shuja: UPDF, Congolese Army Give ADF Rebels ‘Bloody Noses’ After Capturing Their Biggest Camp
By Uganda Online Media
Kampala: The UPDF and FADRC, the Congolese army have captured one of the Allied Democratic forces(ADF) biggest bases called Kambi Ya Yua camp in the DRC thick forests.
According to the joint statement released yesterday evening, Kambi Ya Yua was ADF’s stronghold base accommodating terrorist and their families.
“Early on 24th December 2021, the UPDF mobile forces together with the FARDC assault force, finally captured the much revered ADF/ISCAP camp, Kambi Ya Yua. Kambi Ya Yua, a stronghold of ADF/ISCAP terrorists, seating on eight acres of Virunga forest land, is estimated to have accommodated over 600 ADF/ISCAP terrorists and their families. The camp was captured with limited enemy resistance and there was no effect on the joint forces,” a joint statement read in part.
The Joint forces further confirmed that the captured camp was also hosted to military training and Islamic radicalization activities evidenced through the literature found, bomb-making materials, a damaged Laptop computer, 129 live rounds of PK machine gun loaded in their chain, 155 live rounds of submachine gun ammunition, three solar panels and ADF strength registers.
“The structures in the camp were well built with locally made fences; with many cleared under tree shades as seating areas, suggesting that it was likely to be a command post of a high-ranking rebel leader.”
The UPDF said its engineers are now working around the clock to search for possible improvised explosives, bunkers and to acquire more clues about the ADF.
Col James Kasule, the UPDF Mountain Brigade Commander described the capture of the ADF main camp as a big milestone because “the enemy was using this same camp to launch terror attacks against both Ugandans and Congolese.”
Lt Col Mbayo Katuta, the FARDC Assault Brigade Commander, who is commanding the ground forces in the jungles of Virunga forest said “We want to put ADF and other bandits on tenterhooks, with no breathing space, always on the run, block their supply chains. They will die of hunger in the forest. Soon you will see many surrendering when the situation gets unbearable.”
Three weeks ago, the UPDF and FADRC launched air, artillery and ground attacks against ADF camps inside the thick DRC forests in an operation code-named Shuja, a Kiswahili word to mean “bravery”.
The UPDF Mountain Division Commander Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga is the overall commander of the operation on the Ugandan side whereas Maj Gen Camille Bombele is in charge of the DRC forces, FADRC.
Since the operation kicked off earlier this month, the joint forces have made successful rides on ADF camps including Kambi Ya Yua, Tondoli, Belu1, and Belu2 which are found in North Kivu province in Virunga and Ituri impenetrable forests of Eastern DRC.
