Frank Nyakairu
16 August 2002
The UPDF is on high alert following reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony is headed for Gulu from Kitgum.
He has been in Kitgum for the last two weeks, military sources said.
"We are aware that he is descending because of the pressure behind him and we are ready for him," said the Division 4 spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda.
Reports said yesterday that Kony is reportedly moving with an unspecified number of fighters to Ato hills in Aswa County.
The army could however not confirm the rebels' presence in the hills.
The hills are about 30kms from Gulu town where President Yoweri Museveni has camped for close to two weeks now.
"If it is true that they are that close it is an advantage for us to crush them," Lt. Ankunda added.
Rebels yesterday attacked a village in Odek sub-county and abducted 21 people, including a health worker, before looting drugs from Odek Health Centre.
"We gave them hot pursuit and they dropped some of the drugs," Ankunda said.
The army is also holding an aged man from Aswa County after he was allegedly found with 50 copies of pictures of Kony and his commanders. His particulars could not be established but Lt. Ankunda said, "He is a suspected collaborator of LRA."
Meanwhile, the ferrying of more troops and artillery to Gulu continued yesterday.
Three long vehicles full of soldiers left Bombo military headquarters on Wednesday night for Gulu.
Sources in the town also said that another three tanks were driven on long vehicles to the Division 4 headquarters.
The military high command meetings continued yesterday with President Museveni, the army top brass and all previous northern commanders including Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh.
Sources in Gulu said the president drilled senior army commanders yesterday afternoon at Oyitino range grounds outside the barracks.
Lt. Ankunda said the president had gone on a routine range exercise with the commanders. He said it involved marksmanship.
Among those in the drill were Army Commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini, Operation Iron Fist commander Brig Aronda Nyakirima, his deputy Col. Francis Okello, and Division 4 commander Col. Andrew Guti.
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