LRA kill 2 soldiers

May 24, 2001

TWO UPDF soldiers were killed on Tuesday evening by LRA rebels in an ambush, about 15 km on Kitgum-Lira road

By Dennis Ojwee TWO UPDF soldiers were killed on Tuesday evening by LRA rebels in an ambush, about 15 km on Kitgum-Lira road. The soldiers were on a pick-up truck escorting a long convoy of the World Food Programme (WFP) trucks returning from Acholibur protected camp. The UPDF Fourth Division spokesman, Capt. Khelil Magara, yesterday confirmed the incident. He said one soldier died on the spot, while the other died in a UPDF hospital at the Gulu garrison headquarters. Khelil said an unspecified number of LRA rebels attacked the trucks returning to Kitgum town after distributing food to the displaced people at about 4.30 pm. He said other UPDF soldiers escorting the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) vehicles in the convoy repulsed the rebels after a gun battle at the scene. The attack was near to the road junction to Gulu and Lira in Aruu county, Pader district. Khelil did not identify the soldiers killed. A source who preferred anonymity said one of their workers was injured in the ambush. The official said there were 10 vehicles in the convoy, but none was hit except the one that was carrying the soldiers. This was the second Kony rebel ambush on WFP convoys in 12 days. On May 11 when LRA rebels ambushed a similar convoy at Lukodi in Aswa county on the Gulu-Patiko-Apyeta road, seriously injuring one UPDF soldier. The convoy was taking food to Palaro protected camp, Gulu. The WFP officials said they had reported the matter to district officials and were awaiting their response. Recently, the NGOs working in Gulu requested the RDC, Musa Ecweru, as chairman of the district committee, to step up security on the roads. This was in a meeting at Gulu district council hall. Ends

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