LRA Kills 16, Loses Nine In Pader

By Dennis OjweeFOURTEEN civilians, two soldiers and nine rebels were killed yesterday when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels struck Patongo town in Pader district. Several civilians were injured. Security sources at the Joint Command Centre (JCC), opened by army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini a fortnight ago, said the rebels struck at dawn, looted property and abducted a number of children and adults.The source said between 80 and 100 rebels emerged from the bush under the command of one Tabuley and were immediately repulsed by the UPDF soldiers.The source said the rebels were under hot pursuit and dropped assorted ammunition, money and other items along the way.“We immediately repulsed the rebels after they attacked patongo and also pushed them off because they have got no force left now.The rebels cannot get any military supplies now, not even from the Sudan,” the JCC source said.Other security sources said the rebels retreated towards Kalongo, which is about 30kms north-east of Patongo.Sources at the UPDF 4th Division headquarters in Gulu said information about the attack was still scanty by press time.The newly-posted public relations officer of the UPDF 4th Division, Paddy Ankunda, said the army was pursuing the rebels.“As a matter of fact, these people have no capacity and source of military weapons to cause a big threat to the UPDF. Therefore, they must be eliminated,” Ankunda said.He said the rebels did not have any programme that could cause a big security threat. He said the rebels will be constantly pursued and dealt with by the UPDF.The attack on Patongo follows another attack on Purongo Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp, 45km on Gulu-Pakwach road, in which eight people, including a UPDF soldier, were killed. Eleven other people were injured in the Saturday night attack.About 38 people, including UPDF soldiers, have been killed in about seven attacks by the rebels in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.The attack on Patongo is the second in Pader district in three weeks after a strike on Lacek-Ocot IDP camp in Atanga sub-county, Aruu county. In the earlier attack, one UPDF soldier, a woman and a child were killed and several huts set ablaze by the rebels.Meanwhile, about 26 people have been killed and at least 14 others injured in more than five road ambushes since the LRA, under Vincent Otti, crossed into Uganda via Kitgum on June 8.Among those injured in the ambushes was the Northern Regional Police Commander, Marshal Odur.Ends