Surrendered LRA rebels flown to Uganda

December 23, 2013 (KAMPALA) – The Ugandan military on Monday flew into the country part of a group of 19 Lords Resistance army rebels who surrendered two weeks ago to African Union forces in the Central Africa Republic(CAR).

The 12 Ugandans comprising of six males, two women and four children were flown in by a Ugandan military helicopter from South Sudan from where they had been brought from CAR.

‘‘We have received them [the former rebels]. They are with us. We are providing them with food and medical care as we contact their families,’’ Captain Isaac Oware, spokesman for the 4th Division of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Two weeks ago 19 LRA rebels surrendered to the African Union (AU) forces in CAR. Captain Oware said seven of the rebels were citizens of CAR and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

‘‘They were handed over to their respective countries,’’ he said.

The AU forces hunting for the elusive LRA leader Joseph Kony have of recent registered some successes in the fight against the rebel group which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US state department.

Early this month an AU contingent comprising of Ugandan soldiers killed LRA commander Col Samuel Kangu and 13 LRA rebels. The commander, the Ugandan army said, was close to LRA leader Joseph Kony.

Kony and some of his senior commanders are wanted for war crimes by the Hague based International Criminal Court (ICC).

The LRA has been accused of committing serious atrocities in Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the CAR.

(ST)