THE ECHO
NORTHERN NEWS EXTRA
For un-censored news from Northern Uganda
ISSUE No. 9
June 2004
Introduction.
In May 2004 the UPDF announced to the world press that it had scored a spectacular
military victory against the LRA with upto 60 rebels killed close to the Sudanese
border. It also announced that the LRA field commander, Col. Onen had been killed. The
foreign correspondents were then collected and flown to the battle field to inspect
the UPDF's victory. What awaited these members of the world media, together with their
local counterpart was a horrific scene they had never prepared for. They had accepted
the UPDF version of events that in all likelihood they would find children amongst the
casualties, but what they hadn't prepared for was the sight of babies, pregnant
mothers amongst the so called "LRA" dead. According to the BBC correspondent who filed
a report for its program "reports from the front-line" he had this to say in summary;
"we are now at the battle field. The first casualty I can see here is a 4 year old
baby, the second over there is also a baby - no older than 4 years, over here is a
pregnant mother, and here - what have we got - a girl barely into their teens, maybe
11, 12, etc., etc. He then concluded, if the UPDF's way of ending this war is through
military means which leads to the slaughter of the type of casualties we've just seen
- then this is totally unacceptable. It is immoral. Many of his viewers no doubt were
left asking the same questions. Where were the real LRA fighters amongst the dead?
Have pregnant mothers now been enlisted into the LRA? 4 year old babies? The more the
pictures were shown, the more his viewers were left with the distinct impression that
this was no military victory, it was a massacre of civilians by the UPDF. Indeed the
BBC reporter could not bear it and he had to ask the UPDF; isn't there a way of
dealing with the "LRA" other than this way (leading to the deaths of mothers and
babies). The UPDF spokesman's response was "these people have got fire, so you meet
them with fire". The UPDF then went on to display about a dozen or so old "rusted
AK47s" as weapons they recovered from the LRA. It was all very unconvincing.
Observers believe the 60 or so "rebels" killed were nothing more than civilians who
were massacred by the UPDF. And as we've reported before, in the overwhelming majority
of cases, wherever the UPDF claim to have killed so many "rebels" the true identity of
those killed turn out to be civilians. In this issue we bring you the story of Pajimo,
where the UPDF killed another set of "rebels" - infact it carried out a massacre of
civilians (one of very many and not counting the activities of the psuedo-LRA).
Finally, we ask the question, is it legal for government forces (or rebels) to pluck
suspects out of hospital beds and take them to unknown destinations? In this issue we
bring you the account of Dr. Okungu. He was the medical officer in Gulu and as he
narrates, so many times UPDF soldiers would come to the hospital taking with them
suspects who are never seen again. Perhaps it is worth asking the same question of the
LRA? How many times have they raided Lacor hospital for medicines? As we've reported
before, at Lacor there is a whole hospital within a hospital dedicated to the UPDF.
Has the LRA ever seen it fit to storm that part of the hospital and take with then
UPDF suspects for further questioning? For our non-Ugandan readers, the LRA raids
medical establishment regularly to replenish its supplies, NEVER to the best of our
knowledge have they seen it fit to kill or take bed ridden UPDF soldiers with them for
further questioning.
On this note and on behalf of the team, I welcome you to the 9th issue and bid you a
good read.
UPDF murders Boda-Boda man...
As LRA activities have intensified in the North so has the indiscriminate killing of
civilians by the UPDF. According to the UPDF spokesman, Capt Fred Akiki Rugadi, 70% of
the LRA force are now engaged in battle with the UPDF in the 4 Northern districts of
Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Apac.
On 27 April 2004 a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) man by the name of Philip Okeny was
murdered by UPDF forces whilst he was on his way back to Kitgum town from Padibe. The
incident took place at 6.30 pm and the culprits were a unit of UPDF soldiers
patrolling the Kitgum-Padibe road. The unit were returning to their barracks at
"Kitgum teachers training college" located at 2kms from Kitgum town.
On that fateful day there had been rumours that the LRA had closed the Padibe-Kitgum
road. But by 10.00am civilian traffic was moving freely and women coming to market had
confirmed that the road was trouble free. At around 1.30pm, Mr Okeny then set off to
drop a passenger at Padibe trading centre which was 12kms away from Kitgum town.
Indeed it was confirmed that Okeny reached Padibe without any incident but on his way
back, fate befell him. According to an eyewitness, Okeny was stopped by a group of
UPDF soldiers. When they stopped him, other people who were at the time walking along
the same road were chased away by the UPDF. Before the people could disappear
completely, they heard a cry of somebody in severe pain, it was Okeny. Then they heard
gunshots.
On the morning of 28 April 2004, news reached Kitgum town that a certain Boda-boda
cyclist was killed by the UPDF and that his body plus the motorcycle which he was
riding had been burnt and dumped by the road side. When Okeny's friends and relatives
visited the scene, they too very nearly ran into trouble with the UPDF. It was only
after they had offered a substantial amount of money that the UPDF soldiers allowed
for them to collect Mr. Okeny's body.
Observers believe the death of Mr Okeny was based either on paranoia whereby the UPDF
suspect that civilians travelling along the road might be taking information to the
LRA or rather an act of revenge to account for its losses at the hands of the LRA.
UPDF shoots husband, abduct wife...
On 28 February 2004 UPDF soldiers of Coo-Pe detach centre raided the home of Simon
Komdano, Gulu district and took his wife (to be their sex slave). The soldiers came to
the Komdano homestead at about 9.00pm and demanded his wife, Aciro. The soldiers were
heavily armed and there was nothing Komdano could do. On further thought the civilian
decided to follow the UPDF attackers. The soldiers then warned Mr. Komdano that he
risked being killed if he continued with following them. The civilian persisted. The
UPDF then opened fire at Mr. Komdano. Luckily, whilst he suffered several gunshot
wounds, by the grace of God he somehow survived. Some good samaritans rushed him to
Gulu hospital where medical staff attended to his injuries.
For Aciro, her ordeal had only just began. She didn't know whether her husband was
dead or alive. She was taken by the UPDF and raped by many UPDF soldiers at Coo-Pe
detach. When she was eventually released in the morning, her relatives took the matter
to the LC1. The local official then went to the UPDF detach to report the attack. At
the UPDF base he was asked "whether he really values his own life". He was told "if
you don't want to die, then don't come back here again". That was the end of the
matter.
Observers note that the mass rape of Acholi civilians is not only restricted to the
camps and the outlying areas. The UPDF rapes civilians daily where ever they may be
and this is the reason why the North indeed has the highest incidence of the HIV/AIDS
in Uganda.
UPDF massacre civilians at Pajimo....
On 19 April 2004 UPDF soldiers killed 11 civilians at Pajimo Kitgum district. The
civilians were amongst those forcibly removed from their homes by the UPDF and dumped
next to a military barracks a place which the UPDF prefers to call a displaced peoples
camp. The civilians had gone back to their homes to plant maize and millet to
supplement their meagre food rations in the camps. Little did they know that their
struggle for survival was to mean the end of their lives.
This was the 4th time this group of men and women had gone back to their homes to dig
and plant maize and millet with the first rains. On the 4th day (19th April 2004) the
civilians were apprehended by UPDF patrol units from Pajimo barracks. The UPDF
soldiers started grabbing hold of every one of them and asking them to sit down. At
this point one of the civilians decided to jump and run (as it turned out, he was the
only survivor of the party of 12). He narrated how the UPDF soldiers pursued him until
he almost reached the camp and then they turned back. He soon after heard gunshots
coming from the direction of his former homestead. The UPDF were killing those he had
left behind.
When he reached the camp, terrified by what had happened, people approached him and
began inquiring what the gunfire they heard were all about and where the other people
he had gone to dig (till the land) with, were. The survivor narrated the whole story
of what had happened and within minutes the whole camp was informed about what had
happened. The people then through their leaders went to the UPDF to ask them if they
could go and find out the fate of those in the homestead. The UPDF agreed and offered
a handful of guards to escort them to find out what had happened. Before the civilians
could reach the scene, they came across the UPDF soldiers who had carried out the
massacre. The unit said they came across some rebels and killed all of them and only
one of them escaped. When the people explained that the people they had killed were
civilians, the UPDF retorted that "who had told them to go digging outside of the
camp".
Observers believe the massacre of civilians in Pajimo was a deliberate UPDF policy.
They point to the fact that when the UPDF first set up the camps in the North, their
then commander (Maj. Gen Salim Saleh - who is also the brother to Gen. Museveni) came
up with a decree that there should be no farming activity. "Those who persist with
farming are those intent on feeding the LRA", he said. Therefore any civilian found
outside the camp would be deemed a rebel collaborator and would be killed by the UPDF.
Since then hundreds of civilians have been killed, merely because hunger drove then to
their former homes to look for food.
UPDF lock-up husband, rape wife...
The people of Kati-Kati, Gulu district, would rather have the LRA anytime than the
UPDF if the UPDF cannot refrain from
defiling young girls, raping house wives and unnecessarily beating up civilians.
On 2 April 2004, Mr. Nyeko was seriously beaten up by UPDF soldiers from Kati-Kati
centre when Nyeko found that the soldiers had invaded his home and were raping his
wife. The incident took place at 8.30pm and it happened when Nyeko had returned home
from the centre where he had been with his friends. The soldiers beat up Mr. Nyeko
seriously. The case was reported to the LC1. Mr. Irwenyo, who took the matter to the
commander of the UPDF force. Instead of the UPDF arresting the culprits, they instead
came for Mr. Nyeko. They took him to the detach centre where he was being held on the
charge of fighting UPDF soldiers.
Whilst there is deep disquiet about the attacks by the UPDF and the maltreatment of
the population, there is nothing anybody in Kati-kati can do about the UPDF. In the
North, the UPDF are the law.
The Doctor's account...
Dr Wilbrode Okungu was the medical officer in Gulu from 1999 till 2001 when he fled
the country for fear for his life. Infact his association with Northern Uganda goes as
far back as 1995. He was posted to Lacor Hospital for his internship. He gives as
examples instances where killings were allegedly committed by the LRA when infact such
crimes were committed by the UPDF. He also confirms the UPDF practise of coming to the
hospital and spiriting away eyewitnesses (sick patients) who happened to have
witnesses its crimes. Below is his account;
"About mid 1999 while retating in surgery as junior medical officer, there was a
civilian victim, a male Acholi of about 11 years. He was admitted to the surgical ward
(S1) with multiple gun shot wounds to the legs and the abdomen. After the boy was
resuscitated and stabilising, soldiers from the UPDF 4th division headquarters in Gulu
came to the ward to interrogate this boy. He was later taken away by the soldiers and
his fate has never been known to date".
"In November 1999 whilst attached to surgical ward (S3) a group of 3 youths aged
between 11 and 13 from Palaro in Gulu were admitted to hospital. Assailants had opened
fire on them in their makeshift dancehall killing 3 people instantly and injuring many
others. After resuscitation and stabilising a boy named Michael Ochiti told me that
they were infact shot at by UPDF soldiers, two of whom were seen shortly afterwards
running away from the scene. It was alleged that Ochiti fled the wards but others say
that he had been interrogated by UPDF soldiers who eventually took him away".
"In June 2000, there was an alleged rebel raid on a camp at Pabbo in Gulu district - a
number of victims were later admitted to Gulu regional hospital, ward 3. Most of the
victims confided in me that their assailants wore the same type of uniform like that
of the UPDF guards attached to the camp (i.e. the civilians were saying it was the
UPDF that carried out the raid on the camp). The UPDF raid killed 53 people. That
particular attack came at the peak of the people's agitation to go back to their homes
so that they could plant crops for their consumption. Later UPDF soldiers from the 4th
division came to the hospital to interrogate the victims. Two of the victims were
later reported to have escaped from the wards, although it is believed they were taken
by the UPDF for further interrogation"
The Doctor concludes "these and so many other ugly incidences involving the UPDF as
perpetrators have happened in Gulu and as always left to pass without any
investigations and to bring the culprits to book.
Observers note that all those taken away by the UPDF for further investigation (in all
likelihood) would have been killed. If there is one thing the UPDF fears most, apart
from the LRA, it is the truth. That is why witnesses to the UPDF crimes always have to
be eliminated. It is also why many who look for the truth in Northern Uganda are
easily misled. People simply tell them what they think they would rather want to hear
or rather what the UPDF wants the people to say.
UPDF murders young girl..
On 30 April 2004 at around 8pm in the evening a lady by the name of Doreen Lakot was
arrested, later raped and murdered by UPDF soldiers belonging to the infamous "Gany
Gyang" barracks. She was amongst those, who every evening fearing attacks from the
psuedo-LRA, UPDF and Boo-Keck/KAP gangs (plus according to the LRA spokesman, renegade
members of the LRA) seek refuge at Kitgum town (in schools, churches, hospitals and
under veranda of shops).
On that fateful day, Lakot left their home in the company of her grandfather (her
brothers and sisters, plus her mother had already gone ahead of them). This evening
like every evening they followed the same path that leads them near the UPDF base. As
they were crossing near the barracks, two soldiers came over and ordered them to go to
the barracks. But almost immediately, one of them changed his mind and ordered the old
man to continue with his journey to town. The old man refused and asked the soldiers
to rather take him but let the young girl go. This prompted the soldiers to start
hitting and kicking the old man. More UPDF soldiers came and they joined in viciously
beating up Lakot's grandfather. Sources reveal that the UPDF were prepared to beat the
oldman to death. It was Lakot's intervention, that saved her grandfather. She told the
UPDF soldiers that she would go with them and begged them to let her grandfather go.
The oldman was let go, eyewitnesses say, he was crying all the way to Kitgum town.
In the morning of 01 May 2004 as people were returning from town where they had spent
the night, the reached near "Gang Dyang" and by the roadside was Lakot's dead body.
Her underwear socked with blood lay about 100 meters from where her body was. People
found wounds to her chest still fresh, she'd not been killed for long. Blood was still
coming out from her chest. It is believed she was killed by UPDF soldiers in the most
painful way, using a knife or a machete or both. The scene where Lakot's body was
found was just next to the UPDF barracks and soldiers were preventing people from
going anywhere near Lakot's body.
Shortly afterwards, a UPDF lorry came and carried Lakot's body where they went and
dumped it at Kitgum government hospital. Lakot's relatives then collected her body for
burial from the mortuary. As ever, no investigation nor arrest has been carried out.
Observers note that, to the UPDF, the population of the North are theirs to do with as
they please. In the UPDF' eyes, the women are only good for as long as they can be
used as sex slaves. Lakots murder is one of many that take place every day at the
hands of UPDF soldiers.
UPDF attack Unyama...
Nowadays if you ask people who it is that has carried out an attack (e.g. abduction,
looting, raping of people in the camps) majority of people would say they "don't
know". This is a code for them saying the attacks were carried out by the UPDF.
Whatever maybe said about the LRA, it is a well known fact the LRA does not rape women
and young girls in their homes or near camps.
On 1 May 2004, a young girl (in her early teens) was found raped and lying unconscious
at Unyama camp. Her identification (name) had not been established as she was barely
alive. It is believed she was ganged raped by so many UPDF soldiers, she may only have
regained life with the cold early morning chill. She was rushed to Gulu main hospital
in a desperate move to try and save her life by "good samaritans".
Mr Cankech, a machinist working in Gulu town who was also arrested that evening by
UPDF soldiers when coming back from his place of work revealed that it was the same
soldiers who arrested him who carried out the attack. They ganged raped the young girl
in his presence when he was under arrest. Mr. Cankech was later detained at 4th
division headquarters on the suspicion that he was a rebel collaborator. When the
local people asked Mr. Cankech to take the information he had to the LC1, he refused,
fearing that this would put his own life in danger.
Obsevers note, that the UPDF have created such fear in civilians such that people
simply die quietly rather than raise any complaints against the army. For the daring
ones, they turn their anger against the UPDF to support for the LRA, by offering the
rebels not only material support but information. This also explains why, with each
passing month, attacks by the UPDF against civilians get more and more horrific.
Coo-pe, no respite..
ON 4 May 2004, UPDF soldiers from Coo-pe detach raided homes in Bungatira looking for
women to be their "sex slaves". They came across two teenagers who had been to their
grandmother's home and were now heading back to their late parents home to sleep. The
brother and sister were called Okema and Alanyo. The UPDF soldiers then pounced on the
youngsters. They stopped them and asked where they were going. The two told them that
they were going to back to their home for the night. The UPDF then separated them.
Okema was detained by one group of UPDF soldiers whilst Alanyo was taken to a nearby
bush and repeated raped by a group of UPDF soldiers.
When Alanyo was eventually released she was very poorly. The UPDF nevertheless
threatened the two youngsters that if they reported the matter to anyone, then they
would be back and this time they would kill both of them. In the morning, the
youngsters grandparent took the matter to the LC1 of the area who reported it to the
UPDF commander in charge.
The UPDF commander told the civilians that the guilty soldiers would be transferred to
the 4th division HQ. That also marked the end of the case. For the parents of Alanyo,
they now live in constant fear that anytime the UPDF would return and kill them all.
Bobi too...
Where ever the people of the North turn they find the UPDF and where ever you find the
UPDF more massacres, more attacks.
One by one killings of innocent civilians in Palenga and Bobi camps is causing alot of
fear amongst the population. Everyday people are found dead without any clear
indication as to who actually did it or what their motives were. For instance, a 60
year old man, Mr. Chai and his wife were found unconscious one morning having suffered
serious injury from machete wounds. They were both rushed to Gulu main hospital where
Mr. Chai died 12 hours later. Mrs Chai survived but she had to spend many weeks in
hospital.
Upon her return to Bobi, Mrs Chai told the LC1 chairman, Mr. Luva that it was at 2am
when a group of UPDF soldiers stormed their house. They demanded money, but like the
majority of people who have been forcibly removed from their homes by the UPDF they do
not have a means for earning any income. It was here that their ordeal started. The
UPDF first tied both their hand and legs together and them blind folded them. They
then started beating them and then they pulled out a "panga" (machete). The UPDF only
left when they thought they were both dead. Sources reveal that the UPDF soldiers
responsible came from the UPDF so called Alpha brigade headed by Major Asimwe.
In another incident, the same force murdered a civilian called Christopher Okello. He
was found dead in Palenga after he was shot dead in the chest several times by UPDF
soldiers.
The worst case was that of Mr. Oloko. This occurred on 09 May 2004. His body was found
trapped in a fish net in the nearby Tochi river, about five hundred meters away from
his house. His injuries indicated he had suffered a broken neck. Civilians who earlier
in the day went to bath in the river, said they saw Mr. Oloko standing with three UPDF
soldiers of Palenga (part of Alpha brigade) headed by Capt. Oris, second in command to
Major Asimwe. It is not clear what the UPDF's motive was for Mr. Oloko's brutal
murder. The LC1 of the area, Mr. Apire was too scared to elaborate because he feared
that the UPDF would target him next. Mr Oloko leaves behind a wife, Amono and five
children.
Conclusion:
It was reported in the government mouth piece, the New Vision, that a commander in the
LRA had surrendered to government forces in April 2004. His name is Major Okot. Whilst
many people in Northern Uganda would welcome any sign of an end to the current
conflict, beyond the cessation of hostilities, what the people of Northern Uganda need
is to know the truth - especially who did what to whom, when, where and how. In short
something akin to the truth and reconciliation commission established in other parts
of Africa.
We at the Echo have made our own enquiries about "Major" Okot and our sources suggest
he is not and has never been an LRA commander. If indeed he has been in the bush for
10 years as he no doubt says, then he could only have been a member of the psuedo-LRA
squad. The UPDF therefore was welcoming one of their own back into the fold. A truth
and reconciliation commission would tell us exactly who "Major" Okot is and what his
exact role has been in the ongoing conflict.
Until next time Jok Joka malo.
� The Echo 2004
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
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