Army Kills 31 LRA Rebels
Jan 06, 2003
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have killed 31 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and rescued 126 captives in three different battles in Lagoro, Omiya-Anyima and Nam-Okora sub-counties, east of Kitgum town since Thursday.
By Dennis Ojwee
And James Odong
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have killed 31 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and rescued 126 captives in three different battles in Lagoro, Omiya-Anyima and Nam-Okora sub-counties, east of Kitgum town since Thursday.
The rescued people have been transferred to the 503th brigade headquarters in Kitgum enroute to the Kitgum counselling centre for rehabilitation before rejoining their families.
The excited Kitgum resident district commissioner, Capt. Okot Lapolo, said yesterday, “We had three successful running battles with them (rebels) and we managed to reduce their number by 31. We also rescued 126 captives,â€
He said more captives were still being recovered from the bushes. “Yesterday (Sunday) we recovered 11 more bodies and I have just sent a vehicle to bring four others. The rebels have found Kitgum a hot place and Otti will regret why he came to the district. We have chased them from here to Pader,†Lapolo said before bursting into laughter.
The UPDF northern intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Charles Otema-Awany, said in Kitgum yesterday that Otti was leading about 150 fighters.
He said the UPDF 25th battalion engaged the rebels from about 5:00pm till late before defeating and forcing them into Akara Hills and Nam-Okora villages northeast of Kitgum town.
“Otti could not withstand the UPDF pressure. Thursday was an embarrassing evening which he will definitely live to remember,†Otema said.
Otema said the army recovered five submachineguns (SMGs), one tin of SMG bullets, and three bombs of B-10 antiaircraft guns during the Kitgum battle.
Meanwhile, the army said it killed at least three LRA fighters in the Atori village areas in Aruu county near Agago river banks in Pader district.
In another skirmish in which two UPDF soldiers suffered bullet injuries, at least seven other captives were saved from Acholi-Nyek villages south of Pajule in Aruu.
The army spokesman based in Gulu, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said at least 144 captives were rescued and nine SMGs recovered from the LRA since Christmas Eve.
Kony has fought the government for about 16 years. The rebel chief, who has been declared a terrorist by the USA, has caused mayhem.
Ends
And James Odong
THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces have killed 31 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and rescued 126 captives in three different battles in Lagoro, Omiya-Anyima and Nam-Okora sub-counties, east of Kitgum town since Thursday.
The rescued people have been transferred to the 503th brigade headquarters in Kitgum enroute to the Kitgum counselling centre for rehabilitation before rejoining their families.
The excited Kitgum resident district commissioner, Capt. Okot Lapolo, said yesterday, “We had three successful running battles with them (rebels) and we managed to reduce their number by 31. We also rescued 126 captives,â€
He said more captives were still being recovered from the bushes. “Yesterday (Sunday) we recovered 11 more bodies and I have just sent a vehicle to bring four others. The rebels have found Kitgum a hot place and Otti will regret why he came to the district. We have chased them from here to Pader,†Lapolo said before bursting into laughter.
The UPDF northern intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Charles Otema-Awany, said in Kitgum yesterday that Otti was leading about 150 fighters.
He said the UPDF 25th battalion engaged the rebels from about 5:00pm till late before defeating and forcing them into Akara Hills and Nam-Okora villages northeast of Kitgum town.
“Otti could not withstand the UPDF pressure. Thursday was an embarrassing evening which he will definitely live to remember,†Otema said.
Otema said the army recovered five submachineguns (SMGs), one tin of SMG bullets, and three bombs of B-10 antiaircraft guns during the Kitgum battle.
Meanwhile, the army said it killed at least three LRA fighters in the Atori village areas in Aruu county near Agago river banks in Pader district.
In another skirmish in which two UPDF soldiers suffered bullet injuries, at least seven other captives were saved from Acholi-Nyek villages south of Pajule in Aruu.
The army spokesman based in Gulu, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said at least 144 captives were rescued and nine SMGs recovered from the LRA since Christmas Eve.
Kony has fought the government for about 16 years. The rebel chief, who has been declared a terrorist by the USA, has caused mayhem.
Ends