SUMMARY
ADF violently opposed the Government of Uganda and during the intrastate armed conflict, the group carried out one-sided violence. The group has attacked civilians both in Uganda and in DR Congo (Zaire).
ADF launched its armed struggle against the Ugandan government in 1996 and it soon became apparent that the groups deemed not only Ugandan troops as legitimate targets, but also the civilian population. In the period 1996 to 2001 ADF was primarily active in Uganda where they targeted civilians, from 2010 the groups primary activity had moved across the border into DR Congo (Zaire). Attacks on civilians were recorded from mid-1997 and through the next two years this became increasingly common. They died down in from 2002 but restarted in 2010 and was increasing again from 2014 onward. The main faction of ADF pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on 24 July 2019 leading to them becoming a wilayat under the Islamic State. From prison, the former leader of the group Mukulu opposed the connection to the Islamic State and a small faction led by Muzaaya remained as ADF. After this date attacks against civilians continued under the IS-civilians brand.
While observers have found it difficult to find any kind of logic behind the killings conducted by ADF, many stating that they appear to attack senselessly, just to kill, a few statements by ADF members on the subject have been recorded. Rogers Kabanda (a.k.a Ali Bwambale Mulima), a rebel spokesman, told the “Independent Monitor” that the group’s attacks on both the Ugandan government and on civilians proved “the power of ADF”. Later reports indicate that the rebels felt a sense of betrayal, blaming the civilian population for not supporting them. A survivor left for dead by the ADF told Human Rights Watch that the rebels had said that “they were killing us because they were suffering in the bush while the civilians are enjoying life in the town."
Apart from repeated attacks on random civilian targets, like trading posts and private homes, there was a distinct pattern of people being killed in the process of forced recruitment. ADF frequently targeted schools in attempts to recruit children and young adults and abductions appear to have been a thought-out policy. There are many examples of children being killed when trying to hide or run away in the process. One of the worst massacres carried out by ADF took place at a technical college at Kichwamba. When the rebels attacked the school, around 80 students looked themselves in their dormitories, upon which ADF fighters set the establishment ablaze.
By 1998 losses on the battlefield and defections within the ranks of ADF had effectively marginalized the rebels. This led ADF leader Jamil Mukulu to change tactics from guerrilla warfare to attacks on urban targets. Thus, by 1998, Kampala saw a wave of grenade and bomb attacks, which resulted in the death of numerous civilians.
Some general patterns can be discerned regarding how the violence was carried out. It appears as if the group at least initially lacked enough ammunition, wherefore most victims were not killed by shooting. Instead, people were hacked or clubbed to death, had their throats cut, or were burned alive. There were also many reports of people being mutilated, having their ears and noses cut off. The scope of the violence included everything from the killing of one or two people to large-scale massacres.
ADF first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1997, when one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in June that year, when the group killed around 40 civilians in Bundibugyo town in south-western Uganda.
