Top ADF Rebel Commander Admits To Commanding Deadly Attack On Tourists, Driver In Kasese – Narrates How They Burnt Them Alive

A suspected commander of the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Abdul Rashid Kyoto, has confessed to ordering the killing of two tourists and their guide in October 2023.

Kyoto, also known as Njovu or Tembo, was committed to the High Court for trial at the next convenient session after investigations into the accusations against him were completed.On Monday, Kyoto appeared before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court, presided over by Mr. Erias Kakooza, on charges of killing David James Barlow, his wife Ceyer Emmarentia Cecilia, and their tour guide, Eric Alyai, on October 17, 2023.

According to the state, after Kyoto’s arrest, he received medical attention for his injury and later disclosed his involvement with the ADF terrorist organization during an interview with investigators.

“He provided a thorough confession of his engagement in the crimes, which involved being a member of the ADF terrorist organization,” the court documents read in part. “

He admitted to traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2018 for ADF military/terrorist training and participating in several ADF combat operations against civilians in both Uganda and the DRC.”

Additionally, he confessed to commanding the group responsible for the attack and murder of Barlow, Geyer, and Alyai.According to the indictment, Kyoto further disclosed that their group had planned to burn down a fuel station in Bwera, Kasese District, to cause a significant impact, but they entered into a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) ambush, forcing the group to split into two to avoid detection.

One group, led by a person named Kamusi, later attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School and a lorry transporting onions. “He further disclosed that he was in constant communication with Kamusi’s group by phone from his base when the two attacks were carried out,” the court records read. The groups later coordinated and regrouped, proceeding to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where he commanded the attack on the tourists.

It is alleged that on October 16, 2023, the couple arrived in Uganda from South Africa aboard Uganda Airlines and proceeded to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Kasese District on October 17, where they checked into Mweya Safari Lodge.

The state contends that on the same day, in the afternoon, the couple went for a game drive in a Toyota Land Cruiser tourist vehicle driven by Alyai, a tour guide/driver of Gorillas and Wildlife Tours Safaris Ltd. However, the three later that evening fell into an ambush laid by a group of ADF terrorists under Kyoto’s command at Nyamunuka, along the Katunguru-Katwe-Kabatoro road within Queen Elizabeth National Park, and were shot dead, with their vehicle set ablaze.

The state further contends that the first responder at the scene had mistaken it for an accident and notified police at Katwe Police Station, who went to the scene and established that the deceased persons had been murdered in cold blood, and their motor vehicle deliberately set ablaze.

At the arrest, Kyoto was found with various items, including an unspecified amount of money, bank cards, airways American Express cards, a Ugandan National Identity Card, employment card, driving permit belonging to the deceased Geyer and Alyai, respectively.

Among the documents and physical exhibits the prosecution intends to rely on include post-mortem reports, photographs, bullet heads and cartridges, crime scene investigation reports, sketch maps, charge and caution statements, call data printouts, DNA reports, and other forensic reports.