UPDF leaves Karamoja

By E. Allio and Wokorach-Oboi An estimated 3,000 UPDF soldiers in Karamoja have been withdrawn and re-deployed under “Operation Iron-fist” to fight Joseph Kony in Pader district, The New Vision has learnt. Last weekend, sources in Kitgum said Kony with about 400 fighters was believed to be in the region of Latanya, Atut and Asuru hills in Pader district. These areas with complicated terrain are uninhibited and normally used for hunting wild game.Army spokesman Maj Shaban Bantariza yesterday confirmed that three or four battalions, which were in Karamoja for the disarmament programme, have been re-deployed in Pader.“These battalion will be engaged in fighting Kony who is believed to be in Pader district. But this does not mean that the disarmament programme in Karamoja will be affected,” Bantariza said. Sources said Kony’s deputy, Vincent Otti whose group has been wrecking havoc in Gulu district has teamed up with Kony.Security sources said a column of Kony rebels on the weekend crossed Ogili forest reserve on Kitgum-Pader border. Bantariza could not confirm whether Otti had joined Kony in Pader. He said the UPDF on Monday evening repulsed LRA attack in Palaro sub-county in Gulu district and killed 14 of the rebels. “We captured seven rifles from them. One of the captured rebels told us that the dead included Otti’s chief intelligence officer,” he said.On July 13, Kony entered the country through Agoro hills in Lamwo sub-county in Kitgum. A day later, a larger group of his fighters under the command of Obuk entered the country through the eastern section of Agoro hills and proceeded towards Teretenya.