87 Kony rebels killed

AT least 87 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels under Joseph Kony were killed, 125 surrendered and 27 captured by the UPDF soldiers in battles last year, reports Dennis Ojwee.Security sources in the 4th Division in Gulu told The New Vision that 27 UPDF soldiers were killed in the battles in the northern Uganda districts.Capt. Khelil Magara, the division spokesman, confirmed the data at his office at the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) in Gulu.Khelil said a total of 291 captives were rescued from the rebels during the various battles with the rebels especially from Pader, Kitgum and Gulu districts and parts of Lira and Apac districts. He said 210 civilians were abducted from the Acholi sub-region.Khelil also confirmed that 27 locally armed groups commonly known as Bookec or LRA pretenders, have also been killed during the UPDF operations to track down the rebels and curb the insecurity in the region.Khelil said five poachers were in the Paraa Game Reserve in Gulu district and that some guns recovered from them.He said 80 civilians were abducted, 26 were killed and two were injured by thugs.Khelil said 11 gun smugglers were arrested towards the Karimojong, Teso sub-region.