Two tourists and their guide heading into Queen Elizabeth National Park were attacked and killed in Kasese. The three include two tourists and one tour guide who was also their driver.
According to the official statement released by Uganda Police the perpetrators of this tragic incident have been identified as the Allied Democratic Forces of Congo (ADF) which is linked with ISIS. The spokesperson of the Uganda Police, Fred Enanga has issued a warning and assures the public that they have already initiated an investigation into the assailants.
The Minister of Internal Security Affairs Severino Kahinda Otafire on a different note states that there is uncertainty regarding whether the attack was done by the ADF forces or merely thieves targeting individuals to rob them of their belongings.
“I saw it and I received a report. However, we need to conduct a thorough investigation as it could involve either terrorists or thieves. It’s crucial for law enforcement not to hastily link the case to the ADF. They should conduct a comprehensive inquiry to properly address the situation,” states Otafire.
The Chairperson of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Daudi Migereko, expressed dismay at the tragic and brutal loss of the two tourists and their guide. He voiced concerns that such acts of violence could instill fear in potential visitors from Europe and other countries, deterring them from choosing Uganda due to concerns about safety and internal instabilities.
“It is really absurd to have got such an horrible attacker from the unidentified terrorists to attack our clients in the park but security organs have raised concerns on the ground to fall up the uplink of the assassination so as we can guarantee safety for other travelers and tourists who also uses the same route,” said Migereko.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sokesperson Hangi Bashir has confimed the death of the two tourists and their guide. He said that UWA has duly informed the respective embassies regarding the unfortunate incident involving their citizens. However, the embassies discouraged them from releasing or revealing the identities of the deceased individuals.
“There have been no alterations, except that we notified both the UK embassy and the South African Embassy regarding the terrorism-related deaths. They urged us not to reveal the identities of the deceased individuals, so the embassy had to engage with the families of those who passed away. Regrettably, we have yet to receive the report regarding the intended target of the assassin,” Bashir explained.
The devastating event has sent shockwaves through the tourism community, leaving tour companies and travelers who had planned trips to Uganda gripped with fear for their safety.
Authorities, including the police and security agencies, have been swift to reassure tourists, urging them to remain composed. They emphasized that they have bolstered security measures across Uganda and are actively working to apprehend the perpetrators behind this terrible act.
General Kahinda Otafire conveyed this information while speaking with the Central Broadcasting Service, addressing the heightened concerns and anxiety caused by the act of terror.
