President Museveni Condemns Cowardly Attack on Tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park

In a heartfelt message to the citizens of Uganda, particularly the Bazzukulu, President Museveni addressed the tragic incident that unfolded on the 17th of October, 2023, within the pristine confines of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

In the statement on his Twitter page, the President described the unfortunate events that occurred at approximately 1800hrs on the Katwe-Kabatooro murram road, where a small group of terrorists, allegedly fleeing from operations in Congo, ruthlessly attacked innocent civilians, resulting in the tragic loss of life. The victims included a newlywed couple who had chosen Uganda as their honeymoon destination, among 193 countries worldwide.

While vowing that the terrorists would be held accountable for their heinous actions, President Museveni also acknowledged that retaliation would not bring back the lives of these friends of Uganda.

The President emphasized the importance of rectifying gaps in security to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and assured them of the necessary support through the Ugandan High Commission in the UK. Additionally, President Museveni commended the diligent efforts of the UPDF, the Police, UWA, and Intelligence agencies in the ongoing battle against the ADF and called for the complete eradication of this threat. He acknowledged that while progress was being made in defeating the terrorists, there was a need to ensure that remnants could no longer commit such atrocities.

Furthermore, the President highlighted the challenges in tracking fugitive groups from Congo and discussed more reliable tracking methods. He drew parallels between this struggle against terrorists and past successes in defeating individuals such as Kony and criminal elements like cattle rustlers and attackers armed with pangas (bijambiya) in various regions, underlining his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Ugandans.

In his conclusion, President Museveni offered his sincere condolences and wished for the souls of the victims to rest in eternal peace, as Uganda comes to terms with this tragic event in one of its most cherished natural treasures, Queen Elizabeth National Park.