President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a directive to the Uganda Wild Authority to offer full-time security guards to tourists within the park.
Museveni’s directive stemmed from the Tuesday, October 17th, attack on two foreign tourists and one Ugandan driver who were visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park by the suspected ADF rebels along the Katwe-Kabatooro Murram road.
The trio, including Barlow David James, a British citizen, and his wife, Erick Alyai, a Ugandan, were murdered, and their tour vehicle was burned to ashes, according to a security report.
“There were a few gaps in the handling of these remnants. UWA was guarding tourists once they were in the park. However, apparently, the tourists were arriving and departing individually,” said President Museveni.
Describing the incident as unfortunate and infuriating, President Museveni said it was a cowardly act on the part of the terrorists attacking innocent civilians and tragic for the couple, who were newlyweds and visiting Uganda on their honeymoon.
Museveni conveyed his condolences and noted that Uganda’s High Commission in the UK will reach out to their families and provide whatever support is necessary in this tragic situation.
“More importantly, the UPDF, the police, the UWA, and intelligence should ensure these mistakes do not happen again and that the ADF is wiped out. The wiping out is moving very well,” said Museveni.
This is the second attack by the suspected ADF rebels in Kasese district within one week.
Last week, a truck carrying onions to Mpondwe Border Market was attacked, burned to ashes, and two occupants were killed by the suspected ADF group in Kasese district.