Two foreign tourists and their Ugandan guide have been killed along Nyamunuka – Katwe Road heading to Queen Elizabeth Game Park. The three travelers were attacked and killed on spot by unidentified assailants who later burnt the tourist vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser. The tourists whose names are still withheld were a South African and British.
In an official statement released by the Uganda Police on “X” platform, which is formerly known as Twitter, the police confirmed that the perpetrators of the crime are suspected to be the Allied Democratic Forces of Congo (ADF) who are being hunted down by the Uganda Police Defence Forces in Congo. Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, issued a warning and stated that they had initiated an investigation into the assailants.
According to the Minister of Internal Security Affairs Severino Kahinda Otafire, there is still uncertainty regarding whether the perpetrators of the tourist’s killing were ADF forces or merely thieves known for targeting individuals to rob them of their belongings.
“I saw it and I received a report. However, we need to conduct a thorough investigation as it could involve either terrorists or thieves. It’s crucial for law enforcement not to hastily link the case to the ADF. They should conduct a comprehensive inquiry to properly address the situation,” stated Otafire.
The Chairperson of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Daudi Migereko, expressed dismay at the tragic and brutal loss of beloved tourists. He voiced concerns that such acts of violence could instill fear in potential visitors from Europe and other countries, deterring them from choosing Uganda due to concerns about safety and internal instabilities.
“It is really absurd to have got such an horrible attacker from the unidentified assailants to attack our clients in the park but security organs have raised concerns on the ground to fall up the uplink of the assassination so as we can guarantee safety for other travelers and tourists who also uses the same route,” said Migereko.
The designated representative of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Hangi Bashir, has refuted the allegations asserting that the terrorism incident took place within Queen Elizabeth National Park. He firmly stated that this claim is inaccurate. Additionally, he elaborated that they had duly informed the respective embassies regarding the unfortunate incident involving their citizens. However, the embassies discouraged them from releasing or revealing the identities of the deceased individuals.
“There have been no alterations, except that we notified both the UK embassy and the South African Embassy regarding the terrorism-related deaths. They urged us not to reveal the identities of the deceased individuals, so the embassy had to engage with the families of those who passed away. Regrettably, we have yet to receive the report regarding the intended target of the assassin,” Bashir explained.
He thus insisted and said that it was a public road not national park channels or trucks of tourists but it was a public road heading to Katwe, Kasese Road-Bushenyi.
In a tragic incident at Queen Elizabeth National Park, a local tour guide, along with two foreign tourists identified as Eric Alyai, fell victim to a suspected attack by the Allied Democratic Forces. Eric Alyai, an employee of Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris, a local tour company, was among those tragically affected.
The devastating event has sent shockwaves through the tourism fraternity, leaving tour operators and travelers who had planned trips to Uganda gripped with fear for their safety.
Authorities, including the police and security agencies, have been swift to reassure tourists, urging them to remain composed. They emphasized that they have bolstered security measures across Uganda and are actively working to apprehend the perpetrators behind this terrible act.
General Kahinda Otafire conveyed this information while speaking with the Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) addressing the heightened concerns and anxiety caused by the act of terror.