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Kony Rebels Hit Katakwi

New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
June 17, 2003
Posted to the web June 17, 2003

By R. Otim and J. Opolot in Katakwi
Kampala
SUSPECTED rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on Sunday night attacked
Obalanga trading centre in Kapelebyong county, Katakwi district, killing a
Local Defence Unit (LDU) and three civilians. They burnt a Police post and an
LDU detachment.
They also burnt 101 grass-thatched huts and eight shops after they failed to
carry all the loot. They abducted 12 civilians.
The attackers are said to have been commanded by 'Col.' Charles Tabuley, a
notorious Kony commander.
The mid-eastern Regional Police Commander (RPC), Bob Ngobi, told a press
conference at his office in Soroti that the attackers spoke Luo and wore both
civilian and military clothes. They looted Obalanga health centre.
He said four people had been confirmed dead one of whom had been identified as
a Local Defence Unit (LDU) officer.
"We do not know how many (of the attackers) they were but the number is
believed to have been big," the RPC said.
He said the number of the rebels had been estimated at over 100.
"We have not known who the attackers were but there are similarities with the
LRA operations," Ngobi said.
Residents who fled to Soroti for refuge said the rebels moved to Kapelebyong
county headquarters and settled at Amusus-Awoja P7 school.
The district councillor for Obalanga, Julius Ocen, said over 100 huts at the
Internally Displaced Persons camps and 10 shops had been burnt.
A UPDF officer attached to a Victor battalion that had been attacked by the
rebels said a soldier was killed.
"These people (the rebels) came in a very big number that our soldiers could
not repulse them. The best they could do was to flee for their lives," the
soldier said.
When The New Vision rushed to Obalanga, frightened residents had bundled what
remained of their belongings and were fleeing the area.
This is the second time the LRA rebels have attacked Katakwi district. In 1998
they attacked Orungo health unit and looted it of all the drugs.
Meanwhile, Emmy Olaki and Steven Candia report in Kampala that the four-hour
attack that started at about 8:00pm and lasted till midnight also left three
civilians dead. There were fears that a number of policemen attached to the
post were either dead or abducted.
Third division chief Andrew Gutti said, "I have sent out my officers to the
field."
The rebels hacked 18 civilians to death in Apac just hours before. A source in
the RDC's office said the rebels were heading for Alias Abyaru's home, once
visited by the President.

   

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