Ugandan army probes rebel’s connection with Sudan

KAMPALA, Oct 4, 2003 (Xinhua) — Ugandan army Saturday announced that it is investigating claims that Joseph Kony, leader of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), was recently allocated a house in Juba, southern Sudan by the Sudan government.

Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) 4th division spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda was quoted by Radio Uganda as saying that there are claims that Kony had acquired a house to settle in Juba.

The spokesman told the government radio that the investigations were continuing.

The army spokesman made the remarks just after one day when Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi said that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir expressed willingness to cooperate with Uganda in ending the LRA rebel menace.

Mbabazi Friday told a press conference in Kampala that the Sudanese government now consider LRA leader Kony as an enemy and has henceforth canceled all transactions with him and his group.

Uganda last month accused the Sudan of resuming support for the LRA rebels. Khartoum denied the accusations and said it would deal seriously with rogue military officers it suspects were collaborating with the LRA.