The Monitor (Kampala)
September 9, 2003
Posted to the web September 9, 2003
Kennedy Lule
Kampala
Otuke County MP, Mr Omara Atubo has said the Lord's Resistance Army rebels killed 17 people in his constituency late last week.
The 5th Division, Spokesman 2nd Lt. Chris Magezi said however, he's aware of 12 deaths when contacted by The Monitor yesterday evening.
"I am aware that a group of [Joseph] Kony's terrorists estimated at between 15 and 20, hacked 11 civilians to death at Barjobi village, Okwang sub county, Otuke [Lira], on Thursday," Magezi said.
Magezi said another body was found on the banks of River Moroto.
Atubo, however, told the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs yesterday that 17 people were killed, according to local authorities who rang him on Sunday.
"I am trying to get details of the victims and I will provide the information to you," Atubo told the committee chaired by Betty Udongo (Nebbi woman).
He said civilians who stay in internally displaced camps, were killed as they sneaked back to their villages to harvest maize.
Atubo said the rebels who attacked his constituency, are part of the group which entered Pader district from Sudan. He said the rebels are headed for Katakwi district in Teso.
A visibly annoyed Atubo also criticised President Yoweri Museveni for saying Kony had been defeated.
"I condemn the president strongly. He should stop joking with lives of Ugandans. 17 people are killed by Kony's men in my area and Museveni says Kony is finished," Atubo stated.
"If Uganda was a democracy, the president would have resigned over failure to provide peace and security to all Ugandans but because we have a military dictatorship, human life is not taken seriously," Atubo added.
Atubo's comments stemmed from a missive published in The Monitor yesterday in which Museveni said the UPDF had defeated Kony.
The missive criticised The Monitor's coverage of the war and accused the paper of supporting Kony.
