Ugandan rebel chief flees back to Sudan- report

KAMPALA, Mar 1, 2005 (New Vision) — The LRA deputy, Lt-Gen Vincent Otti, has crossed back into southern Sudan to meet the LRA commander-in-chief, Gen Joseph Kony.

Otti fled through Adodi in Palabek Ogili in Lamwo county in Kitgum District, in northern Uganda, via Owiny-Kibul to Katire valley where he met Kony on Sunday 27 February, military sources said. Kony has been hiding in Katire valley since late last year.

It is unclear whether Otti, who now heads the LRA negotiating team, went to consult Kony over the peace talks with Betty Bigombe.

The army said Otti fled with less than 15 fighters after meeting the LRA army commander, Maj-Gen Okot Odhiambo.

Bigombe recently said she talked to Otti on phone and he told her he would lead the LRA peace team for meaningful talks with the government. One of the LRA rebels who defected to the army recently said Otti had taken over command of the rebels who were under Sam Kolo and Onen Kamdulu following their surrender to the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Forces) in Gulu.

The army hit Otti’s group that was crossing to Sudan near the border and captured a signaller identified as Lapanyi-Kwara.

Meanwhile, the army has handed over the body of the LRA deputy director of military intelligence, Col Jacob Opoka, to his relatives in Anaka IDP camp. The body was handed over on Sunday at Anaka hospital mortuary by UPDF southern sector commander Maj John Byuma and a UPDF 4th division official, Cap Mike Kisame.