Fellow citizens:
What I would like to know, and perhaps you would like to know is: Why is it that the UPDF often issuing denials whenever the so called "LRA" rebel attack villagers?
What is the rational behind this UPDF denials? What does the UPDF hope to accomplish by issuing this denials? ..and above all why issue denials, when CREDIBLE SOURCES on the ground ( Like the parish Priest of the area) and MISNA often confirm such attacks?
Does the UPDF think that Members of the International Community in and Ugandans in particular are going to question the CREDIBILITY OF A Parish Priest or a Missionary News Gathering source like MISNA?... and instead believe a UPDF spokesman by the Name of Magazi?
The fact of the matter is the UPDF (even with AMUKA Battalion) have FAILED to protect the people of Lango, Acholi Teso, Kaberamaido against the so called "LRA Rebels"( who many now believe are the UPDF Itself)
Matek
Rebels attack Lira villages
By Richard M. Kavuma & Joe Wacha
Jan 5, 2004
LIRA â Rebels of the Lordâs Resistance Army killed 24 people in the district last week.
The Rome-based Missionary Service News Agency reported on Friday that that 22 people had been hacked to death.
Although the army has denied knowledge of the incident, several sources say the rebels attacked at least four villages in Aloi sub-county on Wednesday afternoon. Aloi is 20km northeast of Lira town.
Earlier reports reaching Lira indicated that 20 people had been killed but by Saturday the figure had risen to 24.
Bereaved relatives were by Saturday still arriving in Lira town to place burial radio announcements.
The LC-V councillor for Aloi, Mr George Ongom, said the rebels attacked the villages of Omio, Pe-Obwolo and Alal, while Misna included Bardago and Alebtong villages.
Ongom said many of the dead had ventured out of Aloi trading centre (IDP camp) to get food from the villages.
According to Misna, seven people were reportedly killed in Omio, five in Alebtong, four in Pe-Obwolo and six in Bardago.
Aloi parish priest Fr Andrew Okeng confirmed the raid after visiting the affected villages on Thursday.
Misna reported that relatives of the Omio victims buried their dead under army escort. But the armyâs 5 Division spokesman, Lt. Chris Magezi, told Misna he âknew nothingâ of the attack.
On Saturday, Magezi told The Monitor there was no such attack in Aloi.
Moroto MP Alex Okot could not give any details about the rebel attack.
âThe army has denied everything but we know there was an attack and people died,â the MP said by telephone.
Okot added: âIt is very difficult to confirm and I think the army is taking advantage of that to deny everything.â
The rebel attack came hours before President Museveni declared â in his New Year address â that the LRA had been defeated in Lango and Teso regions.
The LRA has for the last 15 years mostly operated in Acholi, regularly attacking the two neighbouring areas.
 2003 The Monitor Publications
