West Bengal man in Uganda recalls terror-attack horror

Debdatta Mukherjee, an engineer working on a road project in Uganda, has been living in constant fear after armed rebels attacked a school just a kilometer away from where he and his colleagues reside. Over the past two days, at least 41 people, mostly students, were killed in the attack carried out by the ISIS-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Western Uganda.

Speaking over the phone to TOI, Mukherjee expressed his concerns about the deteriorating security situation. Despite having some security measures in place, he fears that the armed rebels could breach them at any moment. The engineers typically move in bullet-proof vehicles, and their quarters are located within a fenced and guarded campus supervised by the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF). However, recent attacks have occurred even closer to their residences, causing them to hear gunshots and live under constant threat.

In response to the attacks, security arrangements for the road project workers have been heightened. The engineers now require permission and protection from the army to go out for essential tasks like purchasing medicines. They are not allowed to leave the quarters after 7 pm, and army convoys escort the vehicles carrying workers and officers. Despite these precautions, local workers are hesitant to go to the project site due to the prevailing fear in the region.


Mukherjee, who has been working on the road project connecting Kasindi in Uganda and Beni in Congo for nearly a year, highlights the challenging security situation in the area. The project involves several Indians, and they occasionally visit the BSF (Border Security Force) camps at Beni, which is part of the United Nations Peacekeeping contingent. However, Mukherjee recalls that two BSF personnel were killed by protesters in Congo a year ago, emphasizing the risks they face in their line of work.

The recent attack has prompted increased surveillance in the affected areas, with helicopters being deployed for monitoring. Mukherjee's account sheds light on the precarious circumstances faced by workers involved in infrastructure development projects in regions affected by armed conflicts and extremist activities. The safety of workers and the need for robust security measures are crucial considerations in such environments.