On the 20 September 2004, at around 4.30pm the UPDF launched an attack upon Lagile camp. They said they had information that civilians in the camp were harbouring rebels. After laying waste to a great many people's makeshift dwellings and property, the UPDF then took away a total of 36 men and 12 women. The 48 civilians were what the UPDF called rebel collaborators. The truth though, was that all the civilians taken were infact chosen at random.
The civilians were then taken to the UPDF barracks in Aruu county. At the UPDF barracks, for the whole of the night of the 20 September 2004, the civilians were subjected to relentless beatings. There were soldiers stamping upon them whilst others lashed out repeatedly with pieces of heavy metal. All forms of torture were used by the UPDF on the civilians that night. All for the reason that the civilians may reveal to the UPDF, who ever in the camps were infact the rea l rebel collaborators. The torture session went on all night, a number of civilians lost the battle for life, two of whom were later identified as Nyeko and Otim.
During the course of the night, the women were separated from the men. The UPDF led them away. In the presence of the men, the UPDF said the women were being taken away to be released - but releasing them was the last thing the UPDF had in mind. For the remainder of the night, the women were all gang raped by UPDF soldiers. One of the women raped that night called Amito, said she only hoped as a result of the attack, the UPDF had not infected her with the deadly HIV virus.
In the morning of 21 September 2004, all the civilians who survived the ordeal were released by the UPDF. But not before a final warning. The UPDF told those going home that they should tell people in the camp that the likes of Otim and Nyeko had been transferred to Gulu for further questioning, where infact the reality was that the y had been killed by the UPDF.
UPDF ambush civilian vehicle at Patiko...
On 14 October 2004 at about 2pm local time, the UPDF ambushed a civilian vehicle at Lugore, Patiko division killing a number of civilians. According to one survivor, she said, they first saw 4 smartly dressed UPDF soldiers emerge from the bush then shortly after words the UPDF opened fire on them. The vehicle in which the civilians were travelling belonged to well known local Pentecostal pastor called Olanya Willeng.
The civilians reported that at the time of the ambush, there was also a UPDF pick up truck travelling behind them, which subsequently stopped to pick up the assailants. Eyewitnesses reported that one of the of assailants (UPDF soldier) was at the rank of a Captain and the UPDF soldiers were all given a lift to Gulu military barracks. According to a local FM station, the UPDF spokesperson confirmed that the attack was carried out by its men, but declined to comm ent any further. Sources have since revealed that the soldiers were from Awach UPDF base and the name of the Captain involved has been made known.
UPDF massacre civilians at Gem...
On 25 September 2004 a group of 16 women set-off from Palabek-Gem camp to go and search for wild vegetables and firewood (so that they can feed their families). It was whilst they had successfully gathered food and were now heading back home (and carrying bundles of firewood on their heads) that the UPDF helicopter gunship came across them. The helicopter gunship dropped bombs against the civilians, killing several instantly. Those who were lucky enough to survive, scattered in disarray as they tried to find their way back to the camp.
When the remaining survivors reached Palabek-Gem camp, they reported what had happened to the camp leader. Together with the camp leader, they went and reported the incident to the UPDF commander in charge of the camp. The UPDF told the civilians that he did not believe them. He said and in his words "the UPDF helicopter gunship can identify clearly who is an untrained civilia
n and
who is a rebel". He went on, he said if the helicopter gunship dropped any bombs then it would have been at a rebel "hide-out" and not on civilians carrying firewood. The camp leader then explained to the UPDF that several of the women were still missing and as it was already late, he (the camp leader) and other civilians planned to go and search the site of the attack for their bodies. At this point, the UPDF commander told the civilians they are free to go if they "didn't value their lives".
The next morning, people in the camp left in search of the missing women. They reached the site and managed to find the bodies of all those who were missing. The only person they were not able confirm whether she was dead or alive (as the body wasn't found) was that of Lamon Sarah. The civilians then returned to Gem camp to bury their dead. As for the UPDF, they put out a statement saying that their helicopter gunship killed several LRA rebels near Palabek Gem
camp.
UPDF attack Anaka....
In October 2004, the UPDF received information that people were moving freely in Anaka and that the people had developed an understanding with local LRA commanders. It was based upon this information that the UPDF led by Col. Otema Awany launched an attack on the area on 26 October 2004.
The UPDF "operation" began at about 6pm and as the UPDF called it, "it was meant to crack down on rebel collaborators". The UPDF then swooped upon 35 local people, most of them young men. They were taken to the local UPDF base where the beatings and torture began and went on right through the night. The UPDF carried "mock executions" - saying they would kill all the civilians as they were LRA collaborators. The civilians were kept in the UPDF base for 2 weeks where daily torture was the order of the day. All these, for the reason that the UPDF were trying to "gleen" from the civilians whatever information they might have ab
out the
LRA. The other purpose for the attack was meant to send a clear and unequivocal message to the local population that "if you talk to the LRA, this is what would happen to you". After 2 weeks with the UPDF, the civilians were released. They were all in a very bad shape and needed most urgent medical attention. It is unclear what became of the ones who were left in a critical condition (whether some of them might have died as a result of their injuries).
UPDF torture, rape civilians at Agoro Dam...
On 28 August 2004, a man and his wife who were found digging in their garden at a place called "Agoro dam" some 2 kilometres away from Palabek Kal were set upon by a contingent of UPDF soldiers. The UPDF accused the man of having the appearance (resemblance) of the LRA commander called Kapere. The man's name was Okwera. The UPDF then demanded that he should confess that he is infact Kapere's brother and that he had gone to Agoro dam to meet him.
The UPDF stripped the man naked whilst he was being beaten in front of his 7 months pregnant wife. When Mr Okwera insisted he had never heard of Kapere, the beating intensified. The UPDF then turned to another tactic. They started piercing Mr Okwera's testicles with thorns so that he could (in their logic) "speak up". Mr Okwera bled profusely. Mrs Okwera was then led away where she was raped by other UPDF soldiers. When they brought her back, the UPDF para
ded her
naked in front of her husband to show what they had done. The UPDF then demanded that Mr. Okwera should sleep with his wife in front of them. Mr. Okwera's testicles were so swollen, he asked the UPDF simply to kill him.
After the rape, torture and humiliation, the UPDF set the civilians free. When the Okwera's reached home, Mr Okwera's brothers had to rescue him as he attempted suicide. He was later taken to Kitgum hospital where he remained for most of September.
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
