UPDF Kills 25 LRA Fighters

By Emmy Allio and Dennis OjweeTHE UPDF said yesterday it had killed 26 Kony rebels in Gulu and Pader districts since the rebels attacked Achol-pii refugee camp on Monday.At least 50 internally displaced Ugandans and Sudanese refugees and eight soldiers were killed in the attack. The army said in the first clash near Achol-pii, it killed 11 rebels. The army lost eight.The second battle was on Monday night at Cwero in Aswa county in Gulu district, where six rebels were killed and six guns recovered. The third battle was on Tuesday at Kalongo in Pader district where nine rebels were killed, among them rebel commanders, John Ojok and Oola.The 4th Division spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said the Cwero battle was “very successful.”He said the rebels were led by commander Opira. Ankunda said at Cwero, the rebels abducted seven children and burnt 25 huts before retreating to Wilulu in Pangik.The rebels in Kalongo came from the direction of Patongo. The army said the group were led by commander Lakati. Ankunda said nine guns were recovered from them.The ranks of the dead rebel commanders were not given. In the attack on Cwero about one month ago, the rebels killed two civilians, a mother and her child, near a UPDF detachment there.The UPDF army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, said the rebels were killed in Kalongo, Parabong, Agago in Pader after they entered UPDF traps at dawn Tuesday.Bantariza said the UPDF did not lose any soldier in the encounter.This was the first rebel attack on Kalongo since the attack on Patongo township in early July in which 10 UPDF soldiers, six civilians and two LRA rebels were killed.The LRA rebels have made 11 attacks in Pader since June 21.Meanwhile, 11 rebels have been confirmed killed by the UPDF during the Achol-pii attack on Monday.Captain Charles Chuluba was among the UPDF soldiers reported to have been killed in the crossfire. Rebels were reportedly commanded by Tabuley.Relief workers Patrick Hillary Opiyo, in-charge of procurement in the camp, mechanic Richard Okumu, Dr. Muwonge and Paul Kilama, were abducted. A driver with the International Rescue Committee, Tabu Taban, was released on Tuesday.Ends