Kampala — Political and civic leaders in Lira have dispelled rumours that a trailer loaded with the wreckage of a helicopter was recently seen passing through the town.

"You cannot tow a helicopter wreckage on a truck. The helicopter, given the material it is made of, would have burnt down after a crash.

"You would not transport any wreckage through a town hoping you are hiding anything. It simply does not make sense," said Army spokesman Shaban Bantariza. He said, "The rumours were manufactured in Kampala and sold to some six ambassadors from the EU on Friday to gain sympathy."

Lira LC5 chief Dr. Charles Odwe Arago said he was not aware of any trailer transporting the scrap of a helicopter.

The Monitor newspaper published a story on October 10, 2002, saying a UPDF helicopter had crashed in Adilang in Pader district, presumably shot down by LRA rebels.

The Government reacted by closing The Monitor for about a week. Upon re-opening, the paper ran an apology.

State minister for information Basoga Nsadhu said newspaper editors admitted their story was wrong and that "the burden is now on The Monitor newspaper to furnish the courts with photographs of the said helicopter and other details."

"If at all a helicopter crashed, it would be a dream for a trailer to go through the jungle into that ragged countryside in Adilang, about 70km east of Pader town," said John Okot, a Lira trader who hails from Adilang.

He said people opposed to the Government want to create the impression that the Government was hiding something by closing The Monitor.

"Why do we buy newspaper if they are feeding us on lies.

"How come Adilang people never saw a helicopter falling but Monitor's Nyakairu (reporter) saw it in Kampala," Okot said.

He said, "It is enemy agents who are behind the rumours."