Former US soldier arrested in Pader over rebel recruitment

By Patrick Okino and Bonney Odongo

A former US marine, Nix Bongomin has been arrested by security operatives in the northern district of Pader over alleged recruitment of rebel fighters for the ‘People`s Patriotic Front’, the army said on Monday.

The 5th division Army spokesman, Ceaser Olweny said Bongomin was picked on Friday from Lacili village, Lakul Sub County in Pader district with a pistol and 30 rounds of ammunition after he sneaked into the country recently.

A source from Pader said that Bongomin sneaked into Uganda from Nairobi Kenya on 3rd January 2012 where he has been living. He had visited Robert Lagoroling, one of the persons who were earlier arrested over alleged rebel recruitment but later given amnesty and released.

The source could not explain why Bongomin visited Lagoroling.
Olweny said Bongomin are said to be the brain behind the (PPF) group and that the security had been following him since 2007.

According to the security Bongomin served in American marine and retired in 2003, joined LRA between 2006 and 2007 and broke away after Joseph Kony plotted to kill him because of his increasing popularity among the junior rebels.

“He was supposed to be killed together with Vincent Otti but he escaped,” said a source within the security circles.
Olweny said Bongomin formed PPF and recruited people but in 2007 when radio journalists Patrick Otim together with others were apprehended, he was not in the country.

“All along he has been on and off. He could sneak in the country and go back,” he said.

Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence picked Bongomin from Pajule police station and transferred him to Kampala for further interrogation on January 8, 2012 according to Olweny.