UPDF overruns Kony base

By Felix Osike THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have overrun one of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel camps inside southern Sudan on its first day of operation. Defence minister Amama Mbabazi told a press conference yesterday that Lara camp, some 90 miles from the Sudan-Uganda border, fell into UPDF hands with little resistance.“The operations began yesterday (Thursday). We have made some reasonable progress. By last evening our forces had captured Lara and they are moving on other camps to flush out the LRA and (rebel leader Joseph) Kony out of their enclave,” Mbabazi said. Maj. Shaban Bantariza, the army spokesman, was present. No details of the casualties and the equipment recovered were available. “We are going to get Kony. All the routes to Uganda from southern Sudan have been blocked and the aid agencies have been told to prepare for any eventualities,” he said.Mbabazi said the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army of Col. John Garang had also given UPDF a “no objection” to deploy in areas it controls in southern Sudan.He said Uganda’s relation with SPLA was in the capacity of a mediator under the Inter-Governmental Action for Development arrangement. Brig. Aronda Nyakairima is co-ordinating the operation. Mbabazi said the Sudanese army (SPAF) was participating in areas where their involvement is required. He said a red line had been drawn where Kony’s forces will be dealt with, should they retreat to either side.“Once Kony goes beyond the red line to the north, the SPAF will deal with him. If he gets out of southern Sudan and comes to Uganda, the UPDF mission will have ended,” he said. Under the protocol signed by Uganda and Sudan, the UPDF has been granted permission to search for and destroy all the LRA camps. The UPDF mission is also to rescue child and other captives. The mission is in phases. Phase one involved the deployment of the UPDF and SPAF to block LRA movements. SPAF has defence positions in Aruu, Fagar and along the River Nile.Mbabazi said Kony has been counter-preparing to survive. He said intelligence information shows that Kony recently relocated 1,000 troops.The defence ministry press unit is covering the operation, but Mbabazi promised to fly journalists there when necessary. He warned The Monitor newspaper against demoralising the army by publicising negative information about the operation. Phase two of the operation involves destroying LRA camps at Agoro, Owiny Kibul, Imatong hills and at Labone, near the Sudanese garrison town of Juba. Phase three involves destroying Kony’s camps at Lubanga Tek, Rwot Kempaco and Orek. He said should the LRA rebels run back to these camps the UPDF would be allowed to pass through SPAF defences to pursue them until they are captured or killed.Mbabazi said the UPDF were allowed to carry out the operations for four weeks starting on March 18. But the operation may continue until LRA is destroyed and its leaders captured.He said Kony could benefit from the Amnesty law if he surrendered now. He said, however, that should the Anti-Terrorism Bill be assented to by the President, Kony and his cronies would be dealt with under the new law. The Bill, passed by Parliament last week, lists LRA as terrorist organisation alongside the Allied Democratic Forces ADF.Mbabazi said the UPDF would exercise maximum caution to The UN children’s agency, Unicef, had queried how the army would deal with those abducted. Mbabazi said the army resorted to military means after all attempts to solve the matter failed.