Ugandan army says LRA’s Kony still in Sudan

Nov 7, 2005 (ARUA, northern Uganda) — Ugandan aarmy spokesperson Lt Col. Shaban Bantariza said that LRA rebel leader still in South Sudan. He denied Ugandan press reports that Joseph Kony had sneaked into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Kampala based New Vision on Saturday published a story indicating that the elusive rebel leader had successfully crossed into north eastern DRC, probably following fighters under his deputy Vincent Otti, who have been in the jungles of Oriental province for close to two months.

“A few days ago, our troops in southern Sudan cornered Kony northeast of Juba and were about to strike when he fled southward, The New Vision reported.

Bantariza, however, said he was not aware of any movement by Kony to DRC. “But if it is true, somebody will have to explain how it happened,” he further added.

Uganda has stationed hundreds of its troops to hunt down the belligerents inside Sudan as well as block their movements. Many more soldiers have been lined up along the frontier areas with the vast DRC to protect the border residents from likely attack.

The army intelligence coordinator in northern Uganda, Col. Charles Otema Awany said “how can Kony cross the White Nile and immediately reach Congo.

Meanwhile, in Arua, the army has said Kony did not pass through West Nile on his reported flight to Congo. Col. Sam Kavuma, the UPDF 409 brigade commander said the story could have been a blatant lie or mix-up.