At least 10 people have been killed in Uganda's western district of Kamwenge by militants with ties to the Islamic State group, confirmed the East African nation's military on Tuesday. The Allied Democratic Forces militants launched the attack early Tuesday morning after crossing from neighboring Congo the month prior, and were subsequently being pursued by the military. The ADF is a group established in the early 1990s by Ugandan Muslims who felt marginalized by the policies of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

At least 10 people have been killed by militants with ties to the #IslamicState group during an attack in #Uganda’s western district of Kamwenge, the East African nation’s military said Tuesday https://t.co/DGzZvZtwgh

— Lucas Webber (@LucasADWebber) December 19, 2023

Despite joint security operations and airstrikes by the militaries of both Uganda and Congo, the ADF continues to launch deadly attacks on locals and security forces across the border of the two countries. This attack is the latest in a series of incidents this year, including the June attack on a school dormitory in Kasese district that left more than 40 dead, as well as the killing of two tourists and their local driver at a national park in the Kasese district near the border with Congo in October. The ongoing violence and instability in the region has resulted in significant loss of life and raises serious concerns for the safety of the local population.