LRA boss Kony names new deputy

By Alfred Wasike, Chris Ocowun & Dennis Ojwee

LORD'S Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony has appointed Okot Odhiambo his deputy, replacing Vincent Otti who is presumed dead, high-placed security sources have said.

“Otti was killed on or around October 8, 2007 during a high command meeting that Kony convened at his base camp in Garamba,” an intelligence brief, obtained by The New Vision, read.

“Kony accused Otti of insubordination and hiding money received from LRA contacts… Kony also feared that Otti was dealing with individuals who wanted to eliminate him and take over the leadership.”

Their disagreement, according to the brief, was also over women. Otti reportedly died from gunshot wounds sustained during a fight between him and the LRA leader.

“Kony has ordered the death of Otti to remain secret so as to avoid mass desertions by those who supported Otti or those who would be scared by this new development,” the brief further read.

Odhiambo is one of the five LRA commanders indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is said to have commanded the LRA massacre in Barlonyo IDP camp in Lira district in February 2004,

where over 300 people were burnt, shot and hacked to death. He also reportedly coordinated raids on civilians in Kitgum in March 2005.
Kony promoted him to the rank of major general and appointed him army commander in April 2005.
Gulu RDC Col Walter Ochora expressed anger over the new developments. “The Government is acting in very good faith,” he told The New Vision on phone.

“Our external security facilitated a team, including me, to collect Makasi from Kinshasa recently. It is now up to Kony to clear the confusion and show good faith so that we can end these problems.”
The UPDF is concerned about the impact the new developments could have on the peace process.

“The appointment of Odhiambo is a very clear indicator of Otti’s fate,” commented UPDF spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye. “Odhiambo is ruthless and infamous for massacring wananchi at Barlonyo. I don’t know what these developments will have on the progress of the peace talks. But with the elusive Kony, it becomes difficult to tell.”

Meanwhile, the LRA peace team, led by Martin Ojul, has started its consultation round in the North. The Acholi cultural leaders yesterday subjected the LRA negotiators to a traditional cleansing ceremony before meeting the cultural chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II.

The ceremony, which took place at Acana’s palace in Gulu, involved stepping on a raw egg and jumping over a stick. Naphtali Ococ, an elder at the palace, ordered Ojul and his team to remove their shoes but they declined and opted to step on the egg with their shoes on.

However, some of the members refused to undergo the cleansing, arguing that they were born-again Christians.

“This is not evil but part of our culture to cleanse people who are coming back from the bush,” Rwot Acana II explained. “This is the beginning of the reconciliation process.”

Other cultural chiefs had different views on whether the negotiators should undergo the cleansing ceremony since they would still go back to the bush and to the Diaspora after the consultation.
Overwhelmed by emotions, Ojul had tears rolling down his cheeks as he addressed the paramount chief and other traditional leaders. “I am sorry for whatever happened in the last 21 years of violence. It is high time we got a solution to this problem.” “Joseph Kony has given me the mandate to negotiate peace with the Government to find a solution to this problem but you need to support me.”

Later, the team held a consultative meeting at St. Monica girls’ tailoring school in Gulu, attended by former abductees and LRA victims, whose lips were cut off by the rebels.

Ojul and his team, composed of Santa Okot, Yusuf Adek, Dr James Obita, Crispus Ayena Odongo and Peter Ongom, are gathering views of people in the affected areas on accountability and reconciliation.