Incident Summary:
03/18/2001: 20 to 30 members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked the western Ugandan town of Kasese, killing 11 people and injuring six others. The attackers first struck the local police barracks at the edge of the town. They then set two gas stations on fire and burned around 50 vehicles during the attack. The perpetrators left a note indicating that the ADF had attacked the town because Kasese residents had voted for President Yoweri Museveni during presidential elections held on March 12, 2001. The leaflet was signed by Mulobelyo, the ADF's Operations Commander. Three ADF rebels were killed in the fighting as well.
Overview
GTD ID:
200103180002
When:
2001-03-18
Country:
Uganda
Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Western
City:
Kasese
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Business |
Name of Entity |
Gas Stations |
Specific Description |
Gas Stations in Kasese. One owned by Shell Corporation. |
Nationality of Target |
Multinational |
Target Type: Police |
Name of Entity |
Undangan Police |
Specific Description |
Police Barracks in Kasese |
Nationality of Target |
Uganda |
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
Civilians |
Specific Description |
Civilians in Kasese |
Nationality of Target |
Uganda |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Major (likely > $1 million but < $1 billion) |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Incendiary |
Gasoline or Alcohol |
Firearms |
Unknown Gun Type |
Weapon Details |
The attackers set two gas stations and over 50 vehicles on fire. They then shot at people as they were attempting to run from the fires. |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
11 Fatalities / 6 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
11 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
3 |
Total Number of Injured |
6 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
"Eleven Killed As Rebels Raid Ugandan Town,” Agence France Presse, March 18, 2001. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties