LRA Violates Own Ceasefire
Mar 04, 2003
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has broken its own cease-fire, a few hours after it was announced.
By Emmy Allio
and James Odong
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has broken its own cease-fire, a few hours after it was announced.
Since Saturday when the purported cease-fire would have come into effect, the rebels have abducted over 46 people, killed seven including two UPDF soldiers and burnt a number of motor vehicles.
Col. John Mugume, the 5th Division commander, said yesterday the LRA abducted over 20 people from Kitgum Matidi on Sunday.
Mugume said the same day, the rebels attacked a vehicle on Kalongo-Patongo road in Pader district, killing one person and injuring several others.
“Those actions by the LRA are not, in my understanding, in conformity with the reported ceasefire. I therefore take it that they have broken their own cease-fire,†he said.
The LRA rebels on Monday killed three people in an ambush between Gere-Gere and Lira-Palwo, about 15 miles on the Pader-Kalongo road in Pader district.
The ambush came two days after their leader, Joseph Kony, announced a truce with the Government. The dead included the driver of the truck, Okudi.
The UPDF has since ignored the ceasefire. On Monday, UPDF patrol forces killed four rebels and rescued 20 captives at Mucwini, Kitgum district and Dure in Pader district.
Local security sources yesterday said the rebels raided Dure village in Acholibur sub-county, Aruu county in Pader and looted food, abducted civilians and forced them to carry the loot.
The commander of the UPDF 503 Brigade in Kitgum, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, said the UPDF killed four rebels, rescued 16 captives and seized some weapons. He said four rebels reported to the UPDF during a brief fight at Dure.
He said the weapons included a rocket-propeller gun pine, one sharp machinegun and a number of assorted items including food and clothing.
Kiwanuka said civilians found bodies suspected to be of LRA rebels near Akol Primary School.
He said the rebels emerged from Omia-Nyima, east of Kitgum town.
The army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, said the rebels abducted 10 people at Lalogi sub-county in Gulu on Saturday and forced them to carry food to the bush.
He said he same day, the rebels ambushed a UPDF foot patrol at Laguti on the Gulu-Kitgum road and killed two soldiers.
Bantariza said the rebels also ambushed a vehicle on Atiak-Bibia road, killed a civilian and burnt the vehicle.
“Just yesterday (Monday) at Aluti near Paicho in Aswa county, they killed a bodaboda man and his passenger and burnt his motorcycle,†Bantariza said.
He said the rebels also killed three civilians in Ngora.
Ends
and James Odong
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has broken its own cease-fire, a few hours after it was announced.
Since Saturday when the purported cease-fire would have come into effect, the rebels have abducted over 46 people, killed seven including two UPDF soldiers and burnt a number of motor vehicles.
Col. John Mugume, the 5th Division commander, said yesterday the LRA abducted over 20 people from Kitgum Matidi on Sunday.
Mugume said the same day, the rebels attacked a vehicle on Kalongo-Patongo road in Pader district, killing one person and injuring several others.
“Those actions by the LRA are not, in my understanding, in conformity with the reported ceasefire. I therefore take it that they have broken their own cease-fire,†he said.
The LRA rebels on Monday killed three people in an ambush between Gere-Gere and Lira-Palwo, about 15 miles on the Pader-Kalongo road in Pader district.
The ambush came two days after their leader, Joseph Kony, announced a truce with the Government. The dead included the driver of the truck, Okudi.
The UPDF has since ignored the ceasefire. On Monday, UPDF patrol forces killed four rebels and rescued 20 captives at Mucwini, Kitgum district and Dure in Pader district.
Local security sources yesterday said the rebels raided Dure village in Acholibur sub-county, Aruu county in Pader and looted food, abducted civilians and forced them to carry the loot.
The commander of the UPDF 503 Brigade in Kitgum, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, said the UPDF killed four rebels, rescued 16 captives and seized some weapons. He said four rebels reported to the UPDF during a brief fight at Dure.
He said the weapons included a rocket-propeller gun pine, one sharp machinegun and a number of assorted items including food and clothing.
Kiwanuka said civilians found bodies suspected to be of LRA rebels near Akol Primary School.
He said the rebels emerged from Omia-Nyima, east of Kitgum town.
The army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, said the rebels abducted 10 people at Lalogi sub-county in Gulu on Saturday and forced them to carry food to the bush.
He said he same day, the rebels ambushed a UPDF foot patrol at Laguti on the Gulu-Kitgum road and killed two soldiers.
Bantariza said the rebels also ambushed a vehicle on Atiak-Bibia road, killed a civilian and burnt the vehicle.
“Just yesterday (Monday) at Aluti near Paicho in Aswa county, they killed a bodaboda man and his passenger and burnt his motorcycle,†Bantariza said.
He said the rebels also killed three civilians in Ngora.
Ends