Uganda negotiates with Sudan to pursue rebel leaders

KAMPALA, Jan 15, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Ugandan government is negotiating with the Sudanese government to permit the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) to penetrate through the operationally red line to pursue The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel leaders.

UPDF spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza was quoted Thursday by Radio Uganda as saying that the LRA rebel leaders, Joseph Kony and Vincent otti were deep in the Sudan.

Bantariza said that most of the senior terrorists of the LRA rebels had fled beyond UPDF mandated area.

This, the spokesman said, gave them chances to organize themselves without interruptions.

The Sudanese government allowed the UPDF to enter southern Sudan to pursue the LRA rebels in March 2002.

Bantariza said that Vincent Otti has now rejoined his boss in the Sudan, adding that this had created some relief to the people in eastern and northern Uganda.

He, however, added that for them their mission is to either kill or, capture Joseph Kony and his senior killers.