UPDF kills 13 Kony rebels in Congo
Dec 29, 2008
THE Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) drew the first blood in the ensuing military offensive against the LRA rebels, killing 13 fighters and recovering a sizeable amount of ammunition.
By Henry Mukasa
THE Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) drew the first blood in the ensuing military offensive against the LRA rebels, killing 13 fighters and recovering a sizeable amount of ammunition.
The scampering rebels, who over the Christmas holiday killed 88 civilians in various parts of DR Congo and South Sudan, fell in the UPDF ambush 20km west of Doroma yesterday evening.
The army recovered nine sub-machine-guns (SMGs), several rounds of ammunition, bombs and other items.
“They are beginning to get a dose of the punishment they deserve. More is to come,†commented Capt. Chris Magezi, the spokesperson of Operation Lightning Thunder that is hunting down the rebels.
The UPDF, SPLA and Congolese army on December 14 launched the joint military offensive against the LRA rebels who have been holed up in the densely forested Garamba National Park in the DRC with their leader, Joseph Kony.
Meanwhile, another 45 people were discovered killed in a church in the DRC over the Christmas holiday, bringing the LRA killings to 88 people in three days.
The church massacre took place on December 26 at a Catholic church located 10km south-east of Doroma close to the border with the Central African Republic (CAR). Doroma is 80km from the intersection of the boundaries of CAR, DRC and Sudan.
Witnesses said the LRA rebels used pangas, machetes, swords and clubs to kill the people who had taken refuge in the church. The victims included babies, women and the elderly.
UPDF soldiers pursuing the group of rebels heading to CAR discovered the massacre. “The scene was unbelievable. It was horrendous,†said Magezi.
On December 24 and on Christmas day, the rebels killed 43 civilians in various parts of the DRC and South Sudan.
The rebels, trying to fleeing to safety since the joint military offensive, killed eight people at Faradge, 17 at Bitima, six at Doroma, five in southwest Sekuru, three between Laforo and Mambe road in DRC, three at Maridi and one along River Tore in South Sudan.
In interviews with the international media, Kony, a former altar boy, has claimed that he is fighting to establish a new government in Uganda based on the 10 Biblical commandments.
However, his rebel group that launched its insurgency in 1988, has been notorious for massacres, abductions, looting, torching of villages, mutilation of survivors and turning girls into sex slaves.
Capt. Magezi said Kony and his ilk were being consistent in their criminal record in northern Uganda and South Sudan during the two years of the failed peace talks. “They have never stopped attacking innocent civilians, killing, abducting and looting,†he stated.
Magezi warned Kony that the allies would not be forced back off by his killing of civilians. “We will never surrender to terror. This crime in the church is horrendous. It shows the urgency with which we must act to neutralise his group.â€
He said the group of rebels heading to CAR had the LRA leaders’ families, while Kony with another group were south of Maridi on the fringes of the densely forested Garamba National Park, his former hideout.
The group that killed civilians in Faradge, l150km from Dungu, the tactical base for the allies, was trying to rejoin Kony, Magezi explained.
“We are deploying more ground troops. Kony will not find another safe haven in Congo. His hour is about to come.â€
He added that the joint forces were making coordinated deployments in the affected villages.
Defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa said yesterday that the killer group was heading to an area controlled by rebels fighting the CAR government.
She said Uganda was awaiting a response from the CAR president, Francois Bozize, when the LRA enters his territory.
“When they (LRA) go there, it will be up to the president of the Central Africa Republic to join his colleagues (Uganda, DRC and South Sudan) to help him fight his rebel group and the LRA,†Nankabirwa commented.
She pointed out that the LRA also risked being rejected by the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy, the group fighting Bozize’s government in the northwest, which has suffered a massive displacement of people and poverty.
“They know Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the region. That’s why I am saying it’s good. Let him go there,†Nankabirwa said.
On the resurgent of killings by the LRA, Nankabirwa said she was not surprised.
“He (Kony) has to get food and he gets it by scaring people away from their homes.â€
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of Kony establishing another safe haven.
“Once he establishes one, it will be crashed,†Nankabirwa warned.
THE Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) drew the first blood in the ensuing military offensive against the LRA rebels, killing 13 fighters and recovering a sizeable amount of ammunition.
The scampering rebels, who over the Christmas holiday killed 88 civilians in various parts of DR Congo and South Sudan, fell in the UPDF ambush 20km west of Doroma yesterday evening.
The army recovered nine sub-machine-guns (SMGs), several rounds of ammunition, bombs and other items.
“They are beginning to get a dose of the punishment they deserve. More is to come,†commented Capt. Chris Magezi, the spokesperson of Operation Lightning Thunder that is hunting down the rebels.
The UPDF, SPLA and Congolese army on December 14 launched the joint military offensive against the LRA rebels who have been holed up in the densely forested Garamba National Park in the DRC with their leader, Joseph Kony.
Meanwhile, another 45 people were discovered killed in a church in the DRC over the Christmas holiday, bringing the LRA killings to 88 people in three days.
The church massacre took place on December 26 at a Catholic church located 10km south-east of Doroma close to the border with the Central African Republic (CAR). Doroma is 80km from the intersection of the boundaries of CAR, DRC and Sudan.
Witnesses said the LRA rebels used pangas, machetes, swords and clubs to kill the people who had taken refuge in the church. The victims included babies, women and the elderly.
UPDF soldiers pursuing the group of rebels heading to CAR discovered the massacre. “The scene was unbelievable. It was horrendous,†said Magezi.
On December 24 and on Christmas day, the rebels killed 43 civilians in various parts of the DRC and South Sudan.
The rebels, trying to fleeing to safety since the joint military offensive, killed eight people at Faradge, 17 at Bitima, six at Doroma, five in southwest Sekuru, three between Laforo and Mambe road in DRC, three at Maridi and one along River Tore in South Sudan.
In interviews with the international media, Kony, a former altar boy, has claimed that he is fighting to establish a new government in Uganda based on the 10 Biblical commandments.
However, his rebel group that launched its insurgency in 1988, has been notorious for massacres, abductions, looting, torching of villages, mutilation of survivors and turning girls into sex slaves.
Capt. Magezi said Kony and his ilk were being consistent in their criminal record in northern Uganda and South Sudan during the two years of the failed peace talks. “They have never stopped attacking innocent civilians, killing, abducting and looting,†he stated.
Magezi warned Kony that the allies would not be forced back off by his killing of civilians. “We will never surrender to terror. This crime in the church is horrendous. It shows the urgency with which we must act to neutralise his group.â€
He said the group of rebels heading to CAR had the LRA leaders’ families, while Kony with another group were south of Maridi on the fringes of the densely forested Garamba National Park, his former hideout.
The group that killed civilians in Faradge, l150km from Dungu, the tactical base for the allies, was trying to rejoin Kony, Magezi explained.
“We are deploying more ground troops. Kony will not find another safe haven in Congo. His hour is about to come.â€
He added that the joint forces were making coordinated deployments in the affected villages.
Defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa said yesterday that the killer group was heading to an area controlled by rebels fighting the CAR government.
She said Uganda was awaiting a response from the CAR president, Francois Bozize, when the LRA enters his territory.
“When they (LRA) go there, it will be up to the president of the Central Africa Republic to join his colleagues (Uganda, DRC and South Sudan) to help him fight his rebel group and the LRA,†Nankabirwa commented.
She pointed out that the LRA also risked being rejected by the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy, the group fighting Bozize’s government in the northwest, which has suffered a massive displacement of people and poverty.
“They know Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the region. That’s why I am saying it’s good. Let him go there,†Nankabirwa said.
On the resurgent of killings by the LRA, Nankabirwa said she was not surprised.
“He (Kony) has to get food and he gets it by scaring people away from their homes.â€
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of Kony establishing another safe haven.
“Once he establishes one, it will be crashed,†Nankabirwa warned.