By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A couple observing their honeymoon have been killed in a “cowardly terrorist attack” at a national park in south-west Uganda, authorities have announced.
The couple along with their guide were killed, and their vehicle burned, in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s police stated.
Bashir Hangi, spokesperson for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, said the attack took place on Tuesday evening.
The authority said in a statement that all parks remain open, adding: “We urge the public to remain patient and allow the investigative process to run its course.”
Police have fingered members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group for the attack.
The tourists were from the UK and South Africa, while their guide was Ugandan, the President, Yoweri Museveni stated.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Museveni added that the Ugandan High Commission in the UK would provide support to the families of the murdered couple.
The UK’s foreign office said it was in contact with the family of a British national following an incident at the park.
The ADF is an IS-linked Islamist group which traces its roots to Uganda but operates mainly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two countries have intensified operations targeting the group in recent months.
On Monday, Uganda’s president said police had foiled a plot, allegedly planned by ADF militants, to bomb churches in the country’s central Butambala district.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said on X: “We have registered a cowardly terrorist attack on two foreign tourists and a Ugandan in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
“The three were killed, and their safari vehicle burnt.”
He added the police are “aggressively pursuing” the suspected rebels, and expressed “our deepest condolences to the families of the victims”.
The police force also posted a photograph of a green four-wheel-drive vehicle on fire.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Uganda, warning the “attackers remain at large”.
