Ex-Rebels Fight Kony
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
New Vision (Kampala)
July 14, 2004
Posted to the web July 14, 2004
Justin Moro and Chris Ochowun
Kampala
THE Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, has commissioned a special 105
battalion comprising 296 former Kony fighters.
The battalion will be deployed in the north alongside the UPDF.
"As we celebrate the passout of our gallant sons and daughters in the Army today July
13, we are also burying the propaganda of the LRA leader (Joseph) Kony, who says
whenever his fighters come out they are killed," Nyakairima said.
"The UPDF observes international law and human rights. We can account for each and
every child, woman or any other LRA fighter who defects or surrenders to us. No one
has been killed," Nyakairima told crowds at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu, at the passout of
former rebels who had completed a two-month training at Lugore.
Maj. Augustine Anywar will command the 105th battalion.
"Should there be any channel, through anyone of you, through which communication can
be passed on to Kony, tell him that we in the UPDF don't kill or poison people like
they do in the bush. We shall continue to account for the LRA returnees until the war
comes to an end," he added.
He warned the former rebels against grabbing things like they used to do in the bush,
saying the Army code of conduct would punish such people.
"I hope you will ensure that the last LRA fighter in the bush comes out either through
military pressure or peacefully," Aronda added.
He said another intake of former rebels was being assembled into another battalion. He
told them that they were entitled to salary and other benefits like any other UPDF
officer.
Relevant Links
East Africa
North Africa
Sudan
Arms and Military Affairs
Uganda
Civil War and Communal Conflict
Human Rights
He said they had deployed the UPDF chief Political Commissar, Brig. Kale Kaihura, in
Juba, southern Sudan, to coordinate with the Sudan government the offensive against
the LRA.
Fourth Division chief Col. Nathan Mugisha said the passout "dispels rumours that the
ex-LRA combatants were taken to Lugore to be imprisoned or given poison to die."
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
