Uganda: February 16, 2003

Archives

The Uganda Army units in the West Nile region were put on alert, following reports that People's Redemption Army rebel are poised to attack Uganda from the area. The PRA militia is based in northeastern Congo's Garamba National Park and was being trained in Lubanga's village in Bule near Bunia.

At least three rebel groups in Congo's Ituri province have demanded that the UN and the Uganda government allow the Ugandan Army to remain in Bunia, to avert a possible genocide. The Rwandan army has also been accused of bringing in guns and landmines, to arm the various anti-Ugandan militia groups.

Meanwhile, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) Lieutenant Walter Ochira and three other rebel fighters surrendered to the army on the 17th. The army also noted that 66 kidnapped individuals were rescued in separate encounters in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts over the February 15-16 weekend. 

Sometimes the killing in Uganda stems from age-old tribal differences. At least 10 people were killed and 2,000 forced to flee, when machete and spear -armed Kebu and Alur tribesmen razed six Lendu villages to the ground in northwestern Uganda. The attackers wanted to avenge the death of three Alur tribesmen gunned down by suspected Lendus before dawn that same day. - Adam Geibel