We urge members of the International Community and organizations such as Human Rights Watch /Amnesty International to take note of such atrocities. This, yet another specific case of an atrocity committed by the UPDF, should paint a clear picture to the world regarding UPDF activities in Northern Uganda.
Moreover, the Bureau we no longer buys the notion that this specific case of atrocity against a pregnant mother was rather isolated and that it did occur by accident. Rather committing atrocities against Ugandans (specifically in Northern Uganda) is now a daily occurrence.
Matek
Soldiers kill Gulu pregnant womanBy Oketch Bitek &Irene Nabwire
July 26, 2003-Monitor
A pregnant woman and her son have been shot dead by UPDF soldiers on patrol in Gulu town. Ms Kacilina Aunu and her son Mr Francis Lakony, 18, were killed Gulu Police Playground, Thursday, at about 2:50 a.m, eyewitnesses said.
Relatives said Lakony was taking his expectant mother to Gulu Hospital when they came across the patrolling soldiers of the 7th Battalion.
The soldiers reportedly stopped Lakony and demanded an explanation.
The soldiers later shot him and his mother, killing them instantly. Lakony was carrying his mother on a bicycle from their home in Pece Pawel village.
Another man Mr Odong Tule, 28, was also shot in the stomach by the soldiers, on patrol, as he returned from a night disco in Gulu town.
Good Samaritans rushed him to Gulu Hospital.
The UPDF 4th Division Public Relations Officer Lt. Paddy Ankunda said government would compensate the bereaved family.
He said the army would provide the bereaved family with coffins, bags of posho and beans, and Shs 200,000 as part of burial expenses.
Recently UPDF soldiers shot dead another man Milton Okema in Palenga Trading Centre for unclear reasons.
They army gave his family a coffin and bags of posho.
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
