Ugandan army says southern Sudanese rebels “attacking” LRA rebels

KAMPALA, Mar 03, 2004 (New Vision) — Sudanese militia groups have began attacking Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in southern Sudan, the army said yesterday.

Army spokesman, Shaban Bantariza, said the rebels were being attacked by the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and that the LRA were being forced to retreat to the interlocking hills at the Uganda-Sudan border. They said angry Sudanese tribal militias and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) rebels were pursuing the LRA who were yesterday heading to the Uganda border.

The LRA, known in Sudan as Tong-Tong (hackers of people), raided Marela tribes around Juba and the Lotuka tribe around Magwi. LRA chief Joseph Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti also attacked SPLA rebels in two locations between Juba and Torit between 24 and 28 February.

The UPDF said the developments were a good opportunity for them. “Whenever we hit them hard, they flee to hide in safe havens in Sudan. Their safe havens are no longer safe. They are now running back to find us where they left us,” army spokesman Shaban Bantariza said.

“Unlike in the past, this time the rebels under Otti returned empty-handed to Sudan. They are now raiding Sudanese villages for food,” intelligence officer Lt-Col Otema Owany said.

Sources said the rebels were moving with large stocks of cattle, which they rustled from the Marela east of Juba. Some of the cattle were rustled from tribes living on Imotong hills, sources said. Sources said SPLA’s retaliatory attacks on LRA at Kormus killed many Kony rebels.