Uganda—Other Rebel Groups

TRO, CYS

Justification for SCS:
a. TRO: The Allied Defense Forces and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda have committed terrorist atrocities in the western region of Uganda. The West Nile Bank Front is a terrorist organization operating in the West Nile region (northwest) of Uganda. While these terrorist groups have limited impact now, they are a reflection and representation of the dissatisfaction with the current government and the potential for future instability and destabilization, which is why they have been included in the stakeholder analysis. Also, all of these groups are suspected of cooperating with the LRA.
b. CYS: Much of the income for the different groups comes from illegally extorting natural resources and through looting.

Stakeholder size:
a. Allied Defense Forces (ADF): 200 -500
b. West Nile Bank Front (WNBF): very few remaining; little influence
c. National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU): joined with ADF
d. Peoples Redemption Army (PRA): the continuing activity of the PRA is disputed, though the GoU? insists upon its existence

Area of Influence
a. Geographic area:
i. ADF: Initially, the ADF was operating in the Rwenzori region, especially in Kasese District however the UPDF forced them into the DRC in 2004. Since then, they have allegedly planted bombs in Kampala pubs, injuring and killing a number of people.
ii. NALU: The National Army for the Liberation of Uganda operated out of the DRC and was active in northern and western Uganda. It has now merged with the ADF.
iii. WNBF: The WNBF was operational in the West Nile region of Uganda and in fighting the SPLA in Southern Sudan during the Sudanese war.
iv. PRA: eastern DRC
v. UNRFII: mostly operated in Arua District from Southern Sudan
b. Population subsets
i. Allied Defense Forces (ADF)
ii. Peoples Redemption Army (PRA)
iii. West Nile Bank Front (WNBF)
iv. National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU)
v. Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II)

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders?
i. ADF: believed to be Sheikh Abdallah Jusuf Kabanda
ii. WNBF: Taban Amin, Idi Amin’s son, though he pledged his support to Museveni in 2005 While it was in Southern Sudan, it was rumored that the WNBF was commanded by Sudanese officers.
b. How does one gain influence in the group?
c. What issues do they care about?
i. ADF: In spite of claims that the ADF seeks to promote an Islamic state, the only real objective is the overthrow of Museveni.
ii. WNBF: to “regain power lost when Idi Amin was ousted in 1979”
iii. NALU: to overthrow Museveni
iv. UNRFII: opposition to the government—initially to that of Milton Obote (in his second term) and then to Museveni; the UNRFII is a faction of the WNBF
d. What does the organizational structure look like?
i. ADF: no centralized command, even when it was more active; “an ill disciplined group of rebels… operated in units of no more than 30 cadres”
ii. WNBF: military ranking

Financial Resources (if applicable)
a. Financial Support:
i. WNBF: received support from the GoS? as a proxy war against the SPLA The DRC also provided weapons to the WNBF.
ii. ADF: support from GoS? , the DRC, Hutu Organizations
b. List activities that generate cash flow
i. ADF: smuggling, theft, extortion
c. Income from activities
d. Profitability

Military Resources (if applicable)
a. What arms do they possess
i. What type?
1. ADF: Hand grenades, land mines, petrol bombs , AK47s
2. WNBF: small arms, land mines
ii. How much?
b. Experience level
i. ADF: the most skilled units in the ADF were the remnants of the NALU that joined the rebel group

Provide a short history of the stakeholder group
a. What is their origin?
i. ADF: The ADF began as a rebel group in 1995 by some ex-commanders of Idi Amin’s army and reached the height of its rebel activity in 1997 and 1998. They killed hundreds of people and abducted 30 students. Over 3,000 were displaced at this time. There are allegations that (like with the LRA) the GoS? is supporting the ADF. It is also suggested that the GoDRC? was arming the ADF to support the Hutu ex-FAR/Interahamwe in eastern Congo.
ii. NALU: The NALU formed in 1988 in the hopes of overthrowing Museveni. Since then, it has merged with the ADF.
iii. WNBF: The WNBF is made up of tribesman in the West Nile region (northwest) of Uganda. Many of its members were in the army of Idi Amin. It was started by Juma Oris, in 1995 a “former Colonel and government minister in the regime of exiled Ugandan leader Idi Amin.
b. How have they changed?
i. Interests