Kony Poised To Attack Again, Says Army

By Dennis Ojwee and AgenciesABOUT 500 combatants of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels are still lingering at the border with Sudan and threatening to re-attack Uganda, army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza has said.The rebels reportedly suffered a heavy defeat by the UPDF troops who killed about 100 of them last Saturday.The LRA troops are being commanded by Joseph Kony himself assisted by field commander Vincent Otti and others yet to be identified.Bantariza yesterday told The New Vision that about 500 LRA fighters were still lingering in the thick bushes, some 30km on the Sudan side of the border. He said the rebels are threatening to attack from the northern part of Kitgum. He said the rebels were suspected to be heading toward Para-Jok in southern Sudan.“The rebels are still hiding and lingering in the thick bushes along the border lines with threats to attack Uganda again, but our forces are on full alert monitoring their movements, and awaiting to respond accordingly,” Bantariza said.He said in last Saturday’s couter-attack, about 100 rebels were killed and 80 captives rescued.The rebels had raided Agoro in Lamwo county in Kitgum.Meanwhile, the army said on Wednesday it was investigating reports that Kony rebels were not solely responsible for a recent spate of attacks in the north of the country. Captain Khelil Magara, spokesman for the Gulu-based 4th army division, told AFP by telephone on Wednesday that there were reports that local thugs were taking advantage of a resurgence in LRA activity to carry out “their criminal activities.” On Monday, four people, including two children, were killed when an armed group attacked the town of Ngai, torching 28 houses. “We are doubting whether these were LRA, or thugs locally called “Boo Kech”, a nickname for armed thugs who disguise themselves as rebels,” Magara said.“We are yet to establish the truth of the matter,” he said, adding that the army had launched a counter-offensive.Ends