[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2003]


Rebels Attack, Leave 15 Dead

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
October 10, 2003
Posted to the web October 10, 2003

By Patrick Elobu
Soroti
The Lord's Resistance Army rebels yesterday attacked the Odudui army unit in
Teso sub-region killing 11 civilians and four militia fighters, the Arrow Group
co-ordinator, Mr Musa Ecweru, has said.
Ecweru said the dawn attack left part of the army unit burnt.
"But our boys put up a spirited fight and killed three LRA rebels including
their commander," Ecweru told journalists at the Arapai UPDF base, 9km north of
Soroti town. Odudui is 15km north of Soroti town.
Ecweru, flanked by Mr John Eresu (MP Kaberamaido), stopped journalists from
visiting Odudui, the scene of the deadly attack.
He said the rebels were planning another attack on the unit. Eresu, himself an
Arrow Group operative, said the attackers were about 300.
"They [rebels outnumbered] our boys. That is why they managed to cause that
damage but the boys chased them and we've seen trails of blood indicating that
the rebels carried their dead away," Ecweru said.
The Arrow fighters also killed a rebel commander called Opio alias Poe Rica
Louno.
Opio's body was displayed at the Soroti sports ground during the 41st
Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Junior health minister Mike Mukula officiated at the celebrations.
"After this we are taking this body to be burnt at Odudui," Ecweru added.
In downtown Soroti, hundreds flooded the regional hospital looking for missing
relatives.
Mr Mukula and Soroti RDC Edward Masiga visited the hospital.
Dr Bernard Odu, the medical superintendent, took them around the wards to see
the 16 people injured in the attack.
The commander of the army unit, Lt. Justine Enywau, lost several relatives. He
only took command on Wednesday. Enywau's stepmother Mary Arago died.
"It is a double tragedy. My unit is attacked before I take command and what you
see here are my dead stepmother and 12 injured relatives," a tearful Lt. Enywau
said.
Ms Esther Atim, a survivor, saw everything.
She is now attending her daughter Angela Atai at Soroti regional hospital. Ms
Atai's intestines were out. A bullet ripped through her abdomen.
"The rebels came in three groups, one group overran the UPDF detach; another
attacked the internally displaced people's camp while the other group manned
the Soroti-Amuria highway and indiscriminately shot at people who attempted to
flee," Atim said.
"Nearly all the rebels I saw had automatic weapons, mostly light machineguns."
She said that the rebels, who spoke Swahili and Luo, were dressed in military
fatigues similar to those of the UPDF. She said they got wind of the attack on
Tuesday.

   

  =============================================================================
  Copyright © 2003 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
                         Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  =============================================================================