The Uganda People’s Defence Forces on Friday killed 23 Lord’s Resistance Army LRA) rebels in two separate fierce battles. The spokesman for the 5th infantry division Lt. Chris Magezi told Sunday Monitor on Saturday morning that the army killed 17 rebels at Orom which is 40kms east of Kitgum town. "We killed seventeen rebels including two rebel officers," said Magezi. He identified the dead LRA officers as Lt. Okot Apeta Luke and 2nd Lt. Ochieng Martin. The UPDF did not suffer any casualties but rescued 14 captives. The regular army and Local Defence Unit personnel jointly carried out the operation. Magezi said the group ambushed at Orom was planning to loot cattle belonging to the Karamojong. "There is little food in Kitgum and Pader so they are almost starving. We ambushed them as they planned to loot Karamojong cattle. They died hungry men," Magezi said. He said because they are hungry they are desperate and can even try to attack Internally displaced People’s Camps to look for food.
At Palabek, which is 32 kms, north west of Kitgum town, the army’s 9th battalion, with air support, fought a fierce battle with rebels reportedly commanded by Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti. Five rebels were killed and 14 captives rescued while the UPDF did not suffer any casualty. The army recovered an SMG, radio antennas and 50 rounds of ammunition. Meanwhile the army killed one rebel in Pader on Friday and recovered an SMG. |