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'PRA Planned Attack in 2002'

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
December 9, 2004
Posted to the web December 9, 2004

By Grace Matsiko
Kampala
The People's Redemption Army (PRA) rebels and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)
of Joseph Kony have links, a former fighter in the group has said.
Dan Morris Tumusiime, a former PRA's coordinator, told the press in Kampala
yesterday PRA and the LRA planned simultaneous attacks on Uganda as early as
2002 Christmas holiday but were put off due to information leakages.
"These (PRA) are linked to the LRA. There are our people on Arua, northern
Uganda, eastern Uganda who connected us" Tumusiime, 27 and a Makerere
University graduate of Industrial and Fine Art narrated to the journalists.
Tumusiime, was Col. Dr Kizza Besigye's 2001 Presidential campaign's publicity
secretary.
Tumusiime, now a born again Christian said he came out publicly on his
association with PRA to clear his conscience. He said his bush names were
"Kasigyi" and "Delta" until his luck ran out last year in Wandegeya when
Internal Security Organisation (ISO) operatives captured him but was released
after he was charged with terrorism.
The government say PRA is headed by the UPDF renegade officers, Lt. Col. Samson
Mande and Lt. Col. Anthony Kyakabale and Col. Edison Muzoora. But Mande and
Kyakabale, have denied any links with the rebel group and instead said it is a
creation by the government to hunt the opposition.
But Tumusiime, now an Executive Director of Uganda Art for Peace, a local NGO,
said he was recruited into the rebel ranks by Mande and helped him to
coordinate their activities using his saloon opposite Buganda Road Court as a
rebel base for about 20 months.
"I participated in recruiting people for PRA and for contributing funds to PRA
work. I also did counter intelligence on UPDF and general networking and
advocacy"
Tumusiime explained before he broke down and shed tears during the interview.
He said some fundraising materials passed through Entebbe airport without
attracting taxes and some personnel in the UPDF provided them information.
He broke down again as he narrated the disappearance of his other colleagues
into the Congo jungle.
Tumusiime said, a Woman MP from Western Uganda, local businessmen and Rwandan
intelligence sent them money and communication equipment.
He said PRA had acquired a sophiscated equipment (Global Positioning System) to
help the commanders locate the location of their fighters.
He said, in the bush the PRA fighters were subjected to witchcraft apparently
to protect them against UPDF.

   

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