Three LRA rebels surrender
THREE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, including a 16-year-old fighter and a commissioned officer, have surrendered to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
By Frank Mugabi
THREE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, including a 16-year-old fighter and a commissioned officer, have surrendered to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The West Nile regional army spokesperson, Capt. Peter Mugisa, identified the returnees as 2nd Lt. Richard Odoki of Lotiny village and Sgt. Patrick Otika Okwerango of Lamino-Dyek village in Pader district. The third returnee, Pt. Samuel Ojara, is from Kilak sub-county in Amuru district.
Ojara, 16, said he was abducted from his home in 2003 at the age of 10. He revealed that he and Okwerango were under the command of brigade commander, Okello Kalalang, who was killed last month in a blitz against the rebels in the Central African Republic.
Kalalang died as a result of wounds sustained during the clash near Obo. Ojara said Kalalang’s death left the group in disarray, which enabled them to escape.
He said he wanted to reunite with his family after seven years in the jungles. Ojara also disclosed that by the time of their departure, Capt. Ocen had taken over the command of Kalalang’s group.
Odoki, who still had a bullet stuck in his left leg, said he escaped from the LRA camp in Balago in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 20 when they were attacked.
Mugisa said the trio would be transferred to the 4th Division headquarters in Gulu and later reunited with their families.
THREE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, including a 16-year-old fighter and a commissioned officer, have surrendered to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The West Nile regional army spokesperson, Capt. Peter Mugisa, identified the returnees as 2nd Lt. Richard Odoki of Lotiny village and Sgt. Patrick Otika Okwerango of Lamino-Dyek village in Pader district. The third returnee, Pt. Samuel Ojara, is from Kilak sub-county in Amuru district.
Ojara, 16, said he was abducted from his home in 2003 at the age of 10. He revealed that he and Okwerango were under the command of brigade commander, Okello Kalalang, who was killed last month in a blitz against the rebels in the Central African Republic.
Kalalang died as a result of wounds sustained during the clash near Obo. Ojara said Kalalang’s death left the group in disarray, which enabled them to escape.
He said he wanted to reunite with his family after seven years in the jungles. Ojara also disclosed that by the time of their departure, Capt. Ocen had taken over the command of Kalalang’s group.
Odoki, who still had a bullet stuck in his left leg, said he escaped from the LRA camp in Balago in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 20 when they were attacked.
Mugisa said the trio would be transferred to the 4th Division headquarters in Gulu and later reunited with their families.