Defence minister plans to eliminate LRA rebel “bases in southern Sudan”
KAMPALA, Mar 01, 2004 (New Vision) — Defence Minister Amama Mbabazi leaves for Sudan this week to meet Khartoum security officials to draw up the final strategies for the destruction of Kony’s bases in southern Sudan.
“We are meeting next week in Khartoum to make the final arrangement to rout Kony out of his bases in Sudan,” Mbabazi said last week.
“When Kony entered Uganda from Sudan, when Operation Iron Fist began in 2002, he had 15 fighting groups. The UPDF’s (Uganda People’s Defence Forces) successes demonstrate a positive turn in the struggle against those terrorists,” he said.
He said Kony now has five fighting groups.
“Kony commands one group and it is based in Sudan. Vincent Otti, who fled back to Sudan, recently commands another. The other three groups are the ones terrorising people in northern Uganda”, he said.
Mbabazi said, “One group is under a killer called Odhiambo. This is the one that massacred people at Abia and Barlonyo. Another one is under a terrorist called Ocan Bunia. This one has been trying to enter Gulu without success. A thug called Raska Okuya commands the third group. This one operates in Pader and Lango.”
“We are all out for them. Inspite of last week’s security lapse in which those thugs killed our people, we have deployed adequately. They are not capable at all. The fact that they succeeded in killing people at Barlonyo does not mean they are strong or it does not mean that the UPDF is weak,” Mbabazi said.
On Kony’s order to depopulate Acholi and Lango, Mbabazi said, “It was not the first time Kony issued those types of orders.
“They attacked Pabbo, Lokum and other places. He even ordered his commanders to ambush buses and other public transport so that they could raise money.
“This was after we tightened the noose around their necks. We have no doubt that we shall finally wipe them out,” he said.
“It is very important to acknowledge the fact that the UPDF is registering a lot of success against these terrorists. We killed 21 of those who killed people at Barlonyo in Ogur sub-county.