UPDF kills 30 rebels in Gulu
At least 30 LRA rebels were killed when the UPDF attacked their hideout at Ora-apwoyo village in Lalogi sub-county, Omoro county in Gulu district on Sunday.
By Chris Ochowun, Justin Moro and Emmy Allio
At least 30 LRA rebels were killed when the UPDF attacked their hideout at Ora-apwoyo village in Lalogi sub-county, Omoro county in Gulu district on Sunday.
The operation comes at a time when the rebels have cleared out of the 100square mile peace zone.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said there were no rebels in the peace zone, adding that their commanders were in Sudan.
He said the government team, led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, could not camp in the peace zone when the rebels were not there.
Northern region army spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said the UPDF 501 brigade killed 10 rebels who tried to flee after the aerial attack.
He said 20 other rebels were killed by shells from helicopter gunship.
More rebels sustained bullet wounds as seen by blood trail on their escape path.
The report, however, could not be independently verified as the press were not allowed at the scene.
Ankunda said the rebels were reportedly commanded by Dominic Ongwen who has been operating in Apac and Gulu districts.
He said the army would attack the rebels in Gulu, Apac, Lira, Pader, Kitgum districts and other parts of southern Sudan outside the ceasefire zone.
Ankunda said weapons including land mines and long-range communications gadgets were recovered.
A UPDF military helicopter was on Sunday patrolling Gulu, Pader, Apac, Lira and Kitgum districts.
The UPDF mobile troops were combing the battlefield to establish the exact number of rebels killed.
The army said it had launched full-scale operations against the rebels outside the ceasefire zone to stop them from attacking the internally displaced peoples’ camps.
Ankunda appealed to LRA commanders to talk peace with the government to resolve the conflict peacefully.
“Let those rebels moving outside the ceasefire zone assemble in one place and accept peace talks with the Government if they don’t want us to continue attacking them,†Ankunda said.
The army recently said it had seized a war map belonging to the rebels indicating major places, including IDP camps and roads, that they wanted to attack.
At least 30 LRA rebels were killed when the UPDF attacked their hideout at Ora-apwoyo village in Lalogi sub-county, Omoro county in Gulu district on Sunday.
The operation comes at a time when the rebels have cleared out of the 100square mile peace zone.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said there were no rebels in the peace zone, adding that their commanders were in Sudan.
He said the government team, led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, could not camp in the peace zone when the rebels were not there.
Northern region army spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said the UPDF 501 brigade killed 10 rebels who tried to flee after the aerial attack.
He said 20 other rebels were killed by shells from helicopter gunship.
More rebels sustained bullet wounds as seen by blood trail on their escape path.
The report, however, could not be independently verified as the press were not allowed at the scene.
Ankunda said the rebels were reportedly commanded by Dominic Ongwen who has been operating in Apac and Gulu districts.
He said the army would attack the rebels in Gulu, Apac, Lira, Pader, Kitgum districts and other parts of southern Sudan outside the ceasefire zone.
Ankunda said weapons including land mines and long-range communications gadgets were recovered.
A UPDF military helicopter was on Sunday patrolling Gulu, Pader, Apac, Lira and Kitgum districts.
The UPDF mobile troops were combing the battlefield to establish the exact number of rebels killed.
The army said it had launched full-scale operations against the rebels outside the ceasefire zone to stop them from attacking the internally displaced peoples’ camps.
Ankunda appealed to LRA commanders to talk peace with the government to resolve the conflict peacefully.
“Let those rebels moving outside the ceasefire zone assemble in one place and accept peace talks with the Government if they don’t want us to continue attacking them,†Ankunda said.
The army recently said it had seized a war map belonging to the rebels indicating major places, including IDP camps and roads, that they wanted to attack.