Rebel Ambush Kills 2

Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels early yesterday killed two civilians after ambushing their vehicle travelling from Amuru to Gulu town, reports Dennis Ojwee.The dead were identified as Charles Okwera, the driver of the Nissan pick-up truck UDN 503 and another man only identified as Kibwola.The ambush occurred at Kaladima, 24km to Gulu town and 4km from a Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) detachment. The vehicle, which was burnt by the rebels, was carrying passengers and produce. A traveller, Okee, who was riding a bicycle to Amuru was robbed of sh50,000. He said he was convinced that the attackers were rebels. He said the rebels recently changed their dress from army uniform to civilian clothes to make it difficult for the army to distinguish them from civilians.Okee said the passengers fled to the bush after the truck was hit. Lt. Paddy Ankunda, the 4th division spokesman, said, “I have heard about the ambush but you know that is not enough. We have to establish whether some people were killed in it or not,” he said.Gulu LC5 chairman, Lt. Col. Walter Ochora, said the ambush was a contradiction of the alleged cease-fire declared by the rebels.“It is too early to comment about the purported ceasefire,” he said.Ends