ISO boss meets Kony’s Deputy
Nov 14, 2003
The Director General of the Internal Security Organisation, Col. Elly Kayanja, has met the ‘vice-president’ of the Lord’s Resistance Movement/Army, “Brig.†Vincent Otti and other commanders, security sources have said.<br>Kayanja, who is camped in the north, appears to be taking advantag
By Emmy Allio
The Director General of the Internal Security Organisation, Col. Elly Kayanja, has met the ‘vice-president’ of the Lord’s Resistance Movement/Army, “Brig.†Vincent Otti and other commanders, security sources have said.
Kayanja, who is camped in the north, appears to be taking advantage of the sharp split in the leadership of LRM/A.
Sources said the meeting has now eased the communication barrier between the Government and the rebels, a major pre-requisite for a peaceful resolution of the northern war.
Intelligence sources said half the top LRA commanders had severed links with LRA leader Joseph Kony who has called a “high command†meeting in Juba, southern Sudan.
“We have learnt from rebels who recently surrendered that Kony is irked by Charles Tabuley’s death and blames his officers for inefficiency.
He has listed a number of certain officers to be killed in a similar manner he killed Otti Lagony and five others two years ago,†sources said.
The sources said Kony is dissatisfied with any officer seeking peace talks with the Government and any officer who has established links with the Government security.
Officers Kony deems to be rebellious and who face the firing squad include Brig Vincent Otti, LRA’s former head of military intelligence, Col. Caesar Accellam, Col. Sam Kolo, Lt. Col. Kwe-Yelo, Maj La Paicho and five other junior officers.
Security sources said Kony loyalists include Kony’s chief security adviser Brig. Kenneth Banya, the new LRA army chief, Abudema and Ocan Bunia.
The position of Brig. Richard Nyeko alias Tolbert Yardin is said to be confusing. He is said to have fallen out with Kony for negotiating the link between LRA and the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) in 2001.
Kony ordered the execution of PRA officers who included former aide to Col. Kiiza Besigye, James Opoka, Capt. Majid Bilia and Lt. Mugerwa. PRA is said to have sought to change the murderous LRA tactics.
Banya was an officer in the defunct Uganda army who later joined the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). He commanded the UNLA army that captured Kitgum town from Idi Amin’s soldiers in 1979. Richard Nyeko and Majid Bilia worked together in UNLA in Arua district in early 1980s while fighting Lt. Gen. Moses Ali’s Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF-1) rebels.
Kayanja said the rift in LRM/A is over disagreements over fighting strategy, the upheaval that followed Tabuley’s appointment as army chief, Kony’s rejection of peace talks with the government and International pressure.
“LRA is now split but the problem is that many of the rebel commanders fear to surrender due to their past crimes against the Acholi. There must be a way out if peace is to return to the north,†he said.
The Director General of the Internal Security Organisation, Col. Elly Kayanja, has met the ‘vice-president’ of the Lord’s Resistance Movement/Army, “Brig.†Vincent Otti and other commanders, security sources have said.
Kayanja, who is camped in the north, appears to be taking advantage of the sharp split in the leadership of LRM/A.
Sources said the meeting has now eased the communication barrier between the Government and the rebels, a major pre-requisite for a peaceful resolution of the northern war.
Intelligence sources said half the top LRA commanders had severed links with LRA leader Joseph Kony who has called a “high command†meeting in Juba, southern Sudan.
“We have learnt from rebels who recently surrendered that Kony is irked by Charles Tabuley’s death and blames his officers for inefficiency.
He has listed a number of certain officers to be killed in a similar manner he killed Otti Lagony and five others two years ago,†sources said.
The sources said Kony is dissatisfied with any officer seeking peace talks with the Government and any officer who has established links with the Government security.
Officers Kony deems to be rebellious and who face the firing squad include Brig Vincent Otti, LRA’s former head of military intelligence, Col. Caesar Accellam, Col. Sam Kolo, Lt. Col. Kwe-Yelo, Maj La Paicho and five other junior officers.
Security sources said Kony loyalists include Kony’s chief security adviser Brig. Kenneth Banya, the new LRA army chief, Abudema and Ocan Bunia.
The position of Brig. Richard Nyeko alias Tolbert Yardin is said to be confusing. He is said to have fallen out with Kony for negotiating the link between LRA and the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) in 2001.
Kony ordered the execution of PRA officers who included former aide to Col. Kiiza Besigye, James Opoka, Capt. Majid Bilia and Lt. Mugerwa. PRA is said to have sought to change the murderous LRA tactics.
Banya was an officer in the defunct Uganda army who later joined the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). He commanded the UNLA army that captured Kitgum town from Idi Amin’s soldiers in 1979. Richard Nyeko and Majid Bilia worked together in UNLA in Arua district in early 1980s while fighting Lt. Gen. Moses Ali’s Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF-1) rebels.
Kayanja said the rift in LRM/A is over disagreements over fighting strategy, the upheaval that followed Tabuley’s appointment as army chief, Kony’s rejection of peace talks with the government and International pressure.
“LRA is now split but the problem is that many of the rebel commanders fear to surrender due to their past crimes against the Acholi. There must be a way out if peace is to return to the north,†he said.