UPDF Frees 87
Feb 26, 2003
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) over the weekend rescued 87 captives from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in Kitgum and Pader districts.
By Chris Ochuwun
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) over the weekend rescued 87 captives from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in Kitgum and Pader districts.
The UPDF 4th division spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, on Tuesday said the captives were being kept at Gang-dyang, the 503rd brigade headquarters in Kitgum.
“The captives reported with an unspecified quantity of arms,†Ankunda said.
He said they would be transferred to the UPDF 4th division child protection soon.
The 503rd brigade commander, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, said 49 of the captives were rescued from Vincent Otti, the deputy LRA commander, while he was trying to sneak back into Sudan through Palabek-kal in Lamwo county, Kitgum district, over the weekend.
“Several of the captives have started escaping and they are reporting daily,†Kiwanuka said.
He said other captives were saved when the UPDF launched an aerial raid on the LRA hideout at Palabek, about 40km west of Kitgum town.
Kiwanuka said among the rescued captives were five women and several child-soldiers.
He said Otti spent a night at Agwata in Palabek before crossing to Sudan with his fighters.
“I don’t know his motive for crossing back to Sudan,†Kiwanuka said.
Ends
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) over the weekend rescued 87 captives from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in Kitgum and Pader districts.
The UPDF 4th division spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, on Tuesday said the captives were being kept at Gang-dyang, the 503rd brigade headquarters in Kitgum.
“The captives reported with an unspecified quantity of arms,†Ankunda said.
He said they would be transferred to the UPDF 4th division child protection soon.
The 503rd brigade commander, Lt. Col. Sam Kiwanuka, said 49 of the captives were rescued from Vincent Otti, the deputy LRA commander, while he was trying to sneak back into Sudan through Palabek-kal in Lamwo county, Kitgum district, over the weekend.
“Several of the captives have started escaping and they are reporting daily,†Kiwanuka said.
He said other captives were saved when the UPDF launched an aerial raid on the LRA hideout at Palabek, about 40km west of Kitgum town.
Kiwanuka said among the rescued captives were five women and several child-soldiers.
He said Otti spent a night at Agwata in Palabek before crossing to Sudan with his fighters.
“I don’t know his motive for crossing back to Sudan,†Kiwanuka said.
Ends