Pictorial: How The UPDF’s Pursuit Of ADF Rebels Is Slowed By Bad DRC Roads

Due to bad roads in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have ceased the use of armored vehicles in the current ground attack against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.

In a combined operation with DRC forces, the UPDF began a series of aircraft strikes against ADF terrorists in Congo on Tuesday. The goal of the operation was to push the insurgents out of their hideouts. It came after a succession of terror incidents in various districts of Uganda, all of which the ADF was responsible for.

Maj Peter Mugisa, the joint operation’s spokesperson, told the media in Bundibugyo on Friday that the UPDF has established a base at Mukakati village in North Kivu Province, which is 18 kilometers from the ADF camps and 9 kilometers from the River Semuliki.

He claims, however, that because to the terrible roads, UPDF vehicles and other heavy equipment are blocked and unable to move from Mukanga village to the ADF encampment.

Mugisa went on to say that the operation would be halted for a week as they waited for UPDF graders and other equipment to unblock the roads and rebuild the Semuliki bridge.

“So far, the UPDF has created its forward operating station in Mukakati as a launching pad because the road is bad and our machines can’t move, so we need to at least halt for a week, bring in our graders, and try to open up,” Mugisa explained.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces armées de la république démocratique du Congo) and the UPDF began a ground operation against the ADF on Thursday, according to Léon-Richard Kasonga, a spokesman for the Congolese army.

Mugisa further stated that according on the information he has received, the Tuesday airstrikes were particularly severe on the ADF camps of Yayuwa, Thondoli, Beli 1 and Beli II.