Ex-rebels ready for Kony
Oct 10, 2003
FORMER rebels of the Uganda National Freedom Move-ment/Army (UNFM/A), have written to President Yoweri Museveni requesting to join the war against Kony
By Jude Luggya
FORMER rebels of the Uganda National Freedom Move-ment/Army (UNFM/A), have written to President Yoweri Museveni requesting to join the war against Kony.
The rebels, who accepted amnesty after nine years of fighting the Government, said they are well trained and battle-hardened to beat Kony.
“Since we know Kony and his ways fairly well, we would root him out and bring peace to Uganda,’’ the letter, dated September 29 and signed by Capt. Abdalla Bagalaaliwo Bogere, reads in part.
Bogere, the group spokesman, told journalists recently that they wrote to the President as a last resort because internal security agencies had not responded to their requests to join the war in the north since 2000 when they surrendered.
“Kony is not that powerful, but he uses special guerrilla war tactics to evade the UPDF. We trained with him in many camps in countries I cannot disclose. We are ready to back the army pursue and defeat him,’’ Bogere said.
He said if the Arrow Group militia, which is not trained in guerrilla warfare has registered a lot of success in fighting the rebels in Teso region, the group members in their thousands would easily break Kony’s resistance.
“This is not a scheme to get money from the Government, let them support us financially and give us guns, then peace that has eluded northern Uganda, will be realised,’’ he added.
He said they are conversant with Northern Uganda and West Nile region because they were camped there.
Former field commanders Lt. Yahya Ssenyonjo, Lt. Ali Alege, and Musa Kirumira attended the press briefing.
Their leader, Major Mohammed Kiggundu, did not attend.
FORMER rebels of the Uganda National Freedom Move-ment/Army (UNFM/A), have written to President Yoweri Museveni requesting to join the war against Kony.
The rebels, who accepted amnesty after nine years of fighting the Government, said they are well trained and battle-hardened to beat Kony.
“Since we know Kony and his ways fairly well, we would root him out and bring peace to Uganda,’’ the letter, dated September 29 and signed by Capt. Abdalla Bagalaaliwo Bogere, reads in part.
Bogere, the group spokesman, told journalists recently that they wrote to the President as a last resort because internal security agencies had not responded to their requests to join the war in the north since 2000 when they surrendered.
“Kony is not that powerful, but he uses special guerrilla war tactics to evade the UPDF. We trained with him in many camps in countries I cannot disclose. We are ready to back the army pursue and defeat him,’’ Bogere said.
He said if the Arrow Group militia, which is not trained in guerrilla warfare has registered a lot of success in fighting the rebels in Teso region, the group members in their thousands would easily break Kony’s resistance.
“This is not a scheme to get money from the Government, let them support us financially and give us guns, then peace that has eluded northern Uganda, will be realised,’’ he added.
He said they are conversant with Northern Uganda and West Nile region because they were camped there.
Former field commanders Lt. Yahya Ssenyonjo, Lt. Ali Alege, and Musa Kirumira attended the press briefing.
Their leader, Major Mohammed Kiggundu, did not attend.