Choppers Strike LRA In Katakwi
Jun 19, 2003
UPDF helicopter gunships on Wednesday evening bombed areas occupied by LRA rebels in Katakwi, report <b>Nathan Etengu, John Omoding and Job Opolot.</b>
UPDF helicopter gunships on Wednesday evening bombed areas occupied by LRA rebels in Katakwi, report Nathan Etengu, John Omoding and Job Opolot.
The UPDF 3rd Division commander, Col. Andrew Gutti, said the rebels who entered Katakwi district on Monday morning were camped in Obalanga sub-county.
By yesterday evening more government troops and armoured vehicles had been deployed in Katakwi to beat off the rebels, according to Gutti.
The rebels killed five people including a local defence force (LDU) man and Kapelebyong sub-county internal security officer (GISO) David Emou. Emou was shot in a vehicle in which he was with a catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Boguslow Zero near Oditel trading centre.
Gutti, who was talking on telephone from Kampala said he was meeting with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Lt. Gen. Yoweri Museveni, over the attack.
He said he wanted to secure more soldiers for deployment in Katakwi district.
“The 19th battalion was the only unit I had and being one, it could not contain the situation,†Gutti said.
Hundreds of civilians fleeing from Kapelebyong and Amuria continued to arrive in Soroti town in large numbers yesterday.
The deputy chief administrative officer, Felix Esoku, told The New Vision that up to 5,000 people registered at a temporary centre established by the district at Swaria Primary School.
“Most of the people reaching Soroti admit that they did not see the rebels at all. They, however, say they fled for fear of being caught up in crossfire between the UPDF and the rebels,†Esoku said.
Sources said the rebels had camped in six sub-counties and were luring youths to join their ranks.
The affected sub-counties were named as Obalanga, Morungatuny, Achowa, Orungo, Kuju, and Kapelebyong.
The fear of attacks by the rebels has also prompted the schools in Katakwi to close.
The District Education Officer, Francis Egadu, ordered an indefinite closure of schools on Wednesday, fearing the possible abduction of students.
But some heads of institutions were reluctant to let the students go saying they were doing examinations.
When The New Vision visited Teso College Aloet yesterday, many students stood by the roadside with their luggage waiting for transport to go back home, although their headmaster, James Akabwai, wanted them to stay.
“I have just addressed an assembly in which I told them that we shall be continuing with our normal programme,†Akabwai said.
The Principal UCC, Elel Obote, also said his students will stay and do examinations. Ends
The UPDF 3rd Division commander, Col. Andrew Gutti, said the rebels who entered Katakwi district on Monday morning were camped in Obalanga sub-county.
By yesterday evening more government troops and armoured vehicles had been deployed in Katakwi to beat off the rebels, according to Gutti.
The rebels killed five people including a local defence force (LDU) man and Kapelebyong sub-county internal security officer (GISO) David Emou. Emou was shot in a vehicle in which he was with a catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Boguslow Zero near Oditel trading centre.
Gutti, who was talking on telephone from Kampala said he was meeting with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Lt. Gen. Yoweri Museveni, over the attack.
He said he wanted to secure more soldiers for deployment in Katakwi district.
“The 19th battalion was the only unit I had and being one, it could not contain the situation,†Gutti said.
Hundreds of civilians fleeing from Kapelebyong and Amuria continued to arrive in Soroti town in large numbers yesterday.
The deputy chief administrative officer, Felix Esoku, told The New Vision that up to 5,000 people registered at a temporary centre established by the district at Swaria Primary School.
“Most of the people reaching Soroti admit that they did not see the rebels at all. They, however, say they fled for fear of being caught up in crossfire between the UPDF and the rebels,†Esoku said.
Sources said the rebels had camped in six sub-counties and were luring youths to join their ranks.
The affected sub-counties were named as Obalanga, Morungatuny, Achowa, Orungo, Kuju, and Kapelebyong.
The fear of attacks by the rebels has also prompted the schools in Katakwi to close.
The District Education Officer, Francis Egadu, ordered an indefinite closure of schools on Wednesday, fearing the possible abduction of students.
But some heads of institutions were reluctant to let the students go saying they were doing examinations.
When The New Vision visited Teso College Aloet yesterday, many students stood by the roadside with their luggage waiting for transport to go back home, although their headmaster, James Akabwai, wanted them to stay.
“I have just addressed an assembly in which I told them that we shall be continuing with our normal programme,†Akabwai said.
The Principal UCC, Elel Obote, also said his students will stay and do examinations. Ends