Security hunts businessman over alleged ADF links

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The Joint Security Forces under Operation Shujaa are hunting for a former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) customs and General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) official.

The manhunt is over allegations linking him to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terror group and bankrolling their activities.

Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Mountain Division/Operation Shujaa spokesperson Maj. Bilal Katamba confirmed on Sunday, April 27, 2024, that they, together with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), are hunting for Phillipe Vampe Kyakimwa.

“We are hunting for him after intelligence proved he was offering logistical support to the terrorists using his company, Maison Lwanzo, located 5km from the Uganda border. He has also been frustrating our peace efforts in the eastern part of the DRC, including the joint road construction project between the DRC and Uganda. Vambe is currently on the run after he jumped bail after being charged in court in Beni by FARDC on the case of supporting and aiding the ADF and had been released on bail to access medical treatment,” Major Katamba told New Vision.

He was reportedly sacked as a customs official after his arrest in 2022.

Joint security sources from FARDC and UPDF noted that Vambe was getting treatment in Uganda and had some family members residing in Kampala.

Road construction equipment saga

The decision to hunt for him follows a meeting between the joint forces under Operation Shujaa, operating in the North Kivu Province under Rwenzori and Beni Axis, on Friday after it emerged that he had deliberately refused to release road equipment under his yard and put a ransom of $300,000 (about shillings one billion).

The road project is contracted to Dott Services by the joint Ugandan and DRC governments to construct a cumulative 233km of roads from Kasindi to Beni to Butembo.

“He has been frustrating the road project; he used his position as Customs Verification Officer to frustrate the implementation of the project, especially under the existing tax waivers that were signed between the two countries,” security sources noted.

Sources also noted that Vambe had reportedly adamantly refused to release road equipment for the construction of community and security roads to enable the joint forces to also carry out operations against the ADF.

Security sources noted that the ADF, through their proxies, own buildings and businesses in urban centres of eastern DRC in towns like Butembo, Beni, Oicha, and Kasindi town. 

“We highly suspect the parking yard where Dott Services equipment is illegally held under the management of Kyakimwa Vambe Phillipe could belong to the ADF since they have penetrated DRC customs using him,” the sources noted.

The intelligence sources noted that the act of sabotage by Vambe Phillipe had delayed work between Beni and Butembo roads. “All the materials meant to establish the major two campsites in Butembo and Kabasha, respectively, are in his custody. This is an act of sabotage and is adding a lot of costs to the project in terms of the project implementation within the time framework as stipulated in the contract agreement,” the source stated.

The source also noted they were investigating allegations that Vambe used his position as a customs officer and diverted project equipment from contracted storage to his yard, which was a clear case of conflict of interest.

On October 27, 2023, there was an attack near his bond where suspected ADF rebels raided Dott Services camp in Kasindi in the DRC, killing two UPDF guards, one Somali driver, and one other male adult. One ADF terrorist was put out of action.

Three vehicles, including a Landcruiser, a bulldozer carrier, and a trailer, were burnt. The scene is near the border of Mpondwe. 

On Friday, Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala noted that the road was being funded jointly between the two countries.

In June 2021, President Museveni and his Democratic Republic of Congo counterpart, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, commissioned the construction of the cumulative 233km road project between the two countries at Mpondwe in Kasese district. Under the deal, both Uganda and DRC were supposed to inject sh243.7b which was 40% of the project, while the contractor was supposed to raise the 60%.