LUCKY: Lopolo in Mulago’s Ward 6C

By Justin Moro and Emmy Allio

KITGUM RDC Lt. Santo Okot Lapolo was seriously injured in an LRA ambush on Sunday.

Lapolo was ambushed in Namukora in Chua county, Kitgum district. He has has been at the forefront of convincing some sections of Joseph Kony’s rebels to surrender. He had just met a small LRA group, who had accepted to surrender.

Sources said the RDC was ambushed by another group, which was against surrendering.

The sources said Lapolo had built confidence among the rebels hiding in the Alipan hunting grounds in Orom, Chua county near the Kitgum-Kotido district border. Orom is the RDC’s home sub-county.

Lapolo was flown to Mulago Hospital yesterday for treatment. A security official said the RDC was out of danger.

Lapolo had recently engaged in talks with some LRA commanders including Vincent Otti, explaining to them the need to denounce rebellion and restore peace in the north.

Kitgum LC5 chairman Nahaman Ojwee described the incidence as unfortunate and appealed to the LRA rebels to stop the killings and respond to the amnesty.