Ugandan army continues in pursuit of rebel leader in Sudan

KAMPALA, July 31, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Ugandan army said Saturday that heavy fighting is continuing in southern Sudan in pursuit of rebel leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army Joseph Kony and his commanders.

During a live talk show on Radio Uganda, army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said that the Ugandan troops Saturday rescued 20 abductees and recovered 90 guns from Dirinyang area, which was Kony’s high command until Tuesday this week when they attacked it.

Bantariza confirmed that Kony was inside the camp when the Ugandan army hit it but was tipped out by his host forces, which enabled his narrow escape.

Meanwhile, Ugandan army 4th division spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said Saturday that the 4th division has raided another Kony’s hide-out at Nangar near Nisitu in southern Sudan.

Ankunda said the army recovered 75 AK guns and other weapons and ammunitions.

The rebel group has gained infamy for its human rights abuses. It tends to swell it ranks by raiding camps for displaced people in northern Uganda and kidnapping children living there, forcing the boys into combat, the girls into sexual slavery.