Police busts ADF cells in Butaleja district
By Drone writer
The police have rescued 59 victims, who were being trained to become ADF rebels. The victims were recruited in Bukedi South and Butaleja districts.
In a statement, police said a total of 9 suspects, including two females, who were highly linked to the ADF suspects, who attacked Busiika and other police stations were arrested.
“We wish to inform the public that terrorists and violent extremist groups, use forced and brutal recruitment of large numbers of children. Children may be kidnapped, abducted, coerced through threats or purchased from traffickers,” they said in a statement that was published on their website.
They said that the terrorists have been using propaganda to recruit innocent children into rebel activities.
“Terrorists and violent extremist groups have also developed propaganda strategies aimed at highlighting the advantages of joining the group or at triggering empathy. Joining a group may be portrayed as offering status and prestige, smart uniforms and weapons,” Enanga said.
Police further explains that they recruit children and train them to do specific roles that include front-line fighting, carrying out executions of hostages or prisoners or carrying out terrorist attacks, including as suicide bombers.
“Others have support roles as messengers, porters, smugglers or spies, or they are in effect treated as slaves and systematically subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation,” they said
They said they prefer girls because they have a high propaganda value compared to boys
“Children, particularly girls, are increasingly being used as spies for delivering messages, carrying materials and under taking suicide attacks. The reasons for this are often pragmatic, children have less understanding of the risk they face and therefore, display less anxiety.
They are also more likely to do so as are they ordered, and they generally benefit from the advantages of arousing less suspicious, which can be a crucial asset, for instance in getting closer to targets,” they added
Most ADF rebel came into Uganda after the UPDF launched an operation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo two years ago.
However many of those that are hiding in Uganda have been arrested and others killed