Col. Kyakabale Training ADF, Says Bantariza
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The Monitor (Kampala)
November 19, 2002
Posted to the web November 19, 2002
Ignatius Ssuuna
Kampala
UPDF spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza has said that renegade army officers Lt.
Col. Anthony Kyakabale and Col. Samson Mande are training a rebel group to
atack Uganda.
Bantariza said Kyakabale and Mande are re-organising remnants of Allied
Democratic Forces (ADF) into a new force to invade Uganda again.
Bantariza was Nov. 16 addressing journalism students of United Media
Consultants and Trainers (UMCAT) about UPDF successes against LRA and ADF
rebels.
He said government has got credible information showing that Kyakabale and
his group have linked up with ADF in areas of north Kivu in DR Congo to begin
a rebellion.
"Yes, they are trying to put together scattered ADF and train them. But
fighting is not a tea party and UPDF is very much prepared to take them on
them," Bantariza said.
He said that most people in eastern Congo are impoverished and this has given
disgruntled politicians opportunity to buy them to fight Uganda as
mercenaries.
Kyakabale and Mande fled to Rwanda last year and declared a struggle against
President Yoweri Museveni's government.
About two weeks ago UPDF raided two ADF camps in Ituri forests in DR Congo
and killed 43 rebels.
Bantariza said about 70 percent of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in
northern Uganda are now secure.
"At first it was hard because some local leaders and confused politicians
from the north were not supporting us. But now they have changed," he said.
Bantariza appealed to Ugandans to support UPDF in its military campaign
against LRA's terrorist activities.
