Uganda court has charged a pregnant woman alongside 15 others with terrorism over their complicity in many attacks across the country. Almost all the defendants were charged with being members of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group that is part of the insurgent group, Islamic State.
Ugandan authorities have alleged with evidence that the group is the brian behind four latest bombings and has deployed a military offensive against ADF in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The terrorist group was established in the 1990s by Ugandans non-conformists following the government’s treatment of Muslims, but it was discovered and wrestled to the ground from bases in the western mountainous Rwenzori region, where its fighters had been hitting countryside and torching schools in the early 2000s.
See The Video
Attacks in October and three suicide bombings in the capital, Kampala, in November, tipped the authorities about the group’s changing strategy. Police told AFP news agency the 15 suspects faced charges of terrorism, aiding and abetting terrorism, and belonging to a terrorist group, and they would remain in custody until their next court appearance on 13 January.
The accused did not enter a plea.
Earlier this month Dr Congo approved a request from Uganda to launch an offensive involving airstrikes and ground troops in the eastern region against ADF militants.
