Joseph Kony, the LRA leader, is out of reach

by Justin Moro And Chris Ochowun, New Vision.

Aug 28, 2005 (Kampala) — The LRA leader, Joseph Kony, and most of his top commanders have fled deep into southern Sudan, beyond the Red Line and are said to be stranded with no food and drugs.

An agreement with the Sudanese government allows the Ugandan army to operate inside the Sudan, only south of the imaginary line.

According to military sources, Kony fled due to UPDF pressure in southern Sudan and northern Uganda.

The UPDF recently stepped up its anti-LRA operations with combined air and ground attacks on LRA positions, killing several rebels including commanders.

The overall army intelligence co-ordinator in the north, Col. Charles Otema Awany, last week said since Kony is behind the Red Line, it was now the obligation of the Sudan government to take him on.

The northern army spokesman, Capt. Paddy Ankunda, said, “Our operations are proceeding well in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. But given where Kony has gone now it’s up to the higher government officials of Uganda and Sudan to handle.”

He said the UPDF would continue to hunt down the few LRA remnants in northern Uganda. He called upon residents to be security-conscious and to always report suspicious characters.