Arua residents flee over LRA rumour
Warom Felix Okello
Arua
Residents of Adumi Sub-county in Arua District on Thursday night fled their
homes after rumour went around that suspected LRA rebels were in their
vicinity. The suspected rebels were reported to be hiding in Achini Forest in
the DRC, 20 Km from Uganda border.
The residents abandoned their homes after some traders from Ariwara in the DR
Congo said they had information about the advancement of LRA rebels towards
Uganda. However, some of the residents returned to their home on Friday morning
after getting assurance from the security agencies and the UPDF.
At Lia and Odramachaku trading centres, shops were closed at 7Pm and people
were restricted from unnecessary movement. The reports come at a time when LRA
spokesman Nyekorach Matsanga, assured Ugandans that their leader Joseph Kony is
ready to sign the peace deal on November 29.
The UPDF West Nile Spokesman, Capt. Robert Kamara dismissed the threats as
unfounded rumours. “It is true people were in panic but it is absolutely false
that rebels can move close to Uganda borders without UPDF detecting them,”
Capt. Kamara said.
The LRA rebels have camped in the DR Congo for several years and have been
accused of committing atrocities in the areas. Capt. Kamara praised the
residents for their vigilance and said the army had so far stepped up night
patrols within Arua Municipality.
But the Adumi Sub-county Councillor, Mr Bernard Atiku, said it was imperative
to strengthen surveillance in the border areas to quell any attacks from the
rebels. “The vigilance of the state operatives must be more than that of the
local population and in this case it was the community that informed the army,”
Mr Atiku said. He called on the people to be security conscious and to report
strangers to security officials for scrutiny.
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