217 rebels surrender
May 24, 2004
A TOTAL of 217 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) field commanders and fighters have surrendered to the UPDF within the last two months.
By Dennis Ojwee and Ray Olweny
A TOTAL of 217 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) field commanders and fighters have surrendered to the UPDF within the last two months.
Five senior LRA commanders have given up with all their fighters. The rebels have surrendered to various UPDF military units in the three Acholi districts of Gulu Kitgum and Pader.
The army said it had mounted pressure against the rebels despite their attacks on the IDP camps in the region in which nearly 100 civilians died in a period of less than a month.
Over 28 LRA rebels surrendered with their field commander, Capt James Owino. Another rebel commander Sgt. James Deogratious on Sunday surrendered in Pajule.
Owino and the fighters reported to the UPDF’s Hotel Battalion commanded by the 509 Brigade in Pajule, Aruu county in Pader district.
Owino, who was abducted from Lira district in 1990 reported with two rifles and six bullets.
Lt. Paul Lukech who commands the 509 Brigade based in Pader town council asked the rebels still in the bush to surrender to avoid being killed by the UPDF.
Among Kony’s top commanders who have surrendered include Maj. Silvio Okot-Ayoli, 2nd Lt. Patrick Okot, a Major identified only as Acama, Capt. Charles Abola and Matthew Otto.
Despite the surrendering, Kony has reportedly ordered the LRA through his deputy, Vincent Otti to kill civilians living in the internally Displaced Persons camps within the Acholi sub-region.
The LRA allegedly target 13 IDP camps in four undisclosed places in Gulu, three in Pader and another three in Kitgum district.
Ends
A TOTAL of 217 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) field commanders and fighters have surrendered to the UPDF within the last two months.
Five senior LRA commanders have given up with all their fighters. The rebels have surrendered to various UPDF military units in the three Acholi districts of Gulu Kitgum and Pader.
The army said it had mounted pressure against the rebels despite their attacks on the IDP camps in the region in which nearly 100 civilians died in a period of less than a month.
Over 28 LRA rebels surrendered with their field commander, Capt James Owino. Another rebel commander Sgt. James Deogratious on Sunday surrendered in Pajule.
Owino and the fighters reported to the UPDF’s Hotel Battalion commanded by the 509 Brigade in Pajule, Aruu county in Pader district.
Owino, who was abducted from Lira district in 1990 reported with two rifles and six bullets.
Lt. Paul Lukech who commands the 509 Brigade based in Pader town council asked the rebels still in the bush to surrender to avoid being killed by the UPDF.
Among Kony’s top commanders who have surrendered include Maj. Silvio Okot-Ayoli, 2nd Lt. Patrick Okot, a Major identified only as Acama, Capt. Charles Abola and Matthew Otto.
Despite the surrendering, Kony has reportedly ordered the LRA through his deputy, Vincent Otti to kill civilians living in the internally Displaced Persons camps within the Acholi sub-region.
The LRA allegedly target 13 IDP camps in four undisclosed places in Gulu, three in Pader and another three in Kitgum district.
Ends