UPDF Kill 250 LRA Rebels

By Joyce Namutebiand Hamis KaheruTWO hundred and fifty rebels of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have been killed so far during operation “Iron Fist”, the defence minister, Amama Mbabazi, said on Thursday.He told Parliament that Kony would soon be no more because of the level of co-operation between Uganda and Sudan. He said the whole of next week he would be in the north.“The UPDF has done very well. I want to assure the House that the UPDF has been achieving its objectives in operation “Iron Fist,” Mbabazi said.He said 96 of the LRA fighters had surrendered while 149 Kony captives had been received.Mbabazi said the LRA had been denied public support in Gulu, Kitgum and other northern districts but that it enjoyed publicity and support from Kony’s political commissars inside Uganda.Mbabazi was responding to concerns raised by Reagan Okumu (Aswa) during debate on the motion to thank the President for his State of the Nation address presented on June 11.Winnie Byanyima (Mbarara municipality), Ben Wacha (Oyam North) Hillary Onek (Lamwo) sought clarification from Mbabazi as to whether MPs from Acholi were among the political commissars of Kony. Mbabazi said he did not have Okumu and Onek in mind.On why he was optimistic that Kony would this time be defeated, he said, “With the level of Cupertino (between Uganda and Sudan) I have no doubt Kony’s end is coming. He is no longer getting supplies,” Mbabazi said.The Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, asked Mbabazi to avail copies of his statement to MPs. Ends