New Vision (Kampala)
June 19, 2003
Posted to the web June 19, 2003
Patrick Alioni And Dennis Ojwee
Kampala
THE Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels on Tuesday night attacked Adjumani Catholic Parish, abducting 15 children from Redeemer Orphanage Centre.
The parish priest, the Rev. Father John Bosco, said the rebels, who attacked the centre at 11:30pm, did not fire any shot. "I managed to escape as they tried to break the door into the radio room. They failed and moved to the Sisters' (nuns) quarters where they also failed to enter. They continued to Redeemer Orphanage, housing 34 Sudanese orphans," he said.
The bishop of Arua Diocese, Frederick Dandrua, who was on a pastoral visit to the parish, was in the room. He said the rebels abducted nine girls and six boys including a seven-year-old. They stole a radio cassette, mobile phone, rosaries, a chalice, robes, hosts and some wine.
"They took the children captive. Twelve were Sudanese," an army spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said from Gulu.
"Our forces are on pursuit," he added. The last time the rebels attacked Adjumani was in 1991 when three of them were killed.
Meanwhile, the rebels yesterday stormed Atiak Police Post, about 44 miles on the Gulu-Juba road.
Ankunda said the rebels grabbed a Police radio call communication system and looted shops near Atiak Police post. They were, however, repulsed by the UPDF.
Travellers on a Gateway bus to Gulu town said the rebels emerged from the Atiak-Moyo road.
Travellers on a Gateway bus said the rebels came from Atiak-Moyo road in single file. The rebels last year stormed a government post in Patongo and stole communication equipment.
