The Monitor (Kampala)
March 5, 2004 Posted to the web March 5, 2004
Patrick Ebong Lira
The UPDF 5th Division has killed 124 LRA rebels in separate battles over the last two weeks in Lira, Pader and Kitgum districts.
The Division Spokesman, Lt. Chris Magezi, told journalists in Lira army barracks this week that the Uganda People's Defence Forces had routed the rebels led by commanders Odiambo and Lukwiya. He said they are responsible for the February 21 massacre of about 200 people in Barlonyo camp and 50 others in Abia camp a few days earlier.
"In what we call combine armed element operation, the infantry troops backed by air support managed to kill 124 rebels, led by Odiambo and Lukwiya within the last two weeks alone," Magezi said. He added that 24 rebels surrendered.
Thirty one sub-machine guns with 360 rounds of ammunitions, a 12.7mm anti- aircraft gun, six anti-tank mines, two hand grenades and a G-2 machine gun were recovered. "We lost two soldiers and four were wounded" he said.
Relevant Links
East Africa Uganda Civil War and Communal Conflict
Three days after the Barlonyo incident, the troops engaged the rebels at Omot in Pader and killed 36 of them. He added that 21others were killed at Kaji-Kaji, south of Acholi Pii, Pader.
Magezi said some rebels were moving in groups of 5 - 8, trying to ambush vehicles and to loot food. The number of internally displaced camps has also been reduced from 48 to about 20 in Lira district to allow for effective protection by the army.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make allAfrica.com your home page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top | Site Français | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2004 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). Click here to contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material.
_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
-------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
