LRA Attacks UPDF In Gulu

By Dennis OjweeTHE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels yesterday morning attacked Cwero UPDF military detachment near the displaced persons’ camp in Aswa county in Gulu, killed three people, injured four and burnt down the detachment.The rebels also looted foodstuff, abducted an unspecified number of people and forced them to carry their loot.The UPDF 4th Division operations commander, Col. Francis Okello, confirmed the rebel attack on Cwero yesterday.He said the number of the rebels was not yet established by press time. Okello said, “What we have confirmed was that one UPDF soldier who had gone home on a pass leave and had gone to sleep in the military detachment due to threats by the rebels, was killed during the attack.”The soldiers wife was reported injured during the crossfire. “We have not got full details of what happened, how many rebels did the attack, how many civilians living in Cwero camp were injured or killed,” Okello said.The UPDF intelligence officer, Capt. Rugumayo, said the UPDF soldier was not part of the forces deployed at the detachment.He said the rebels, all armed, were estimated at 100 while the detachment had 30 UPDF soldiers, who were out of the detachment by the time the rebels attacked it.Rugumayo said the UPDF was pursuing the rebels. Local security reports from Cwero said at least three people were killed during the surprise attack by the rebels.Ends