Kampala — The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) yesterday once again turned their guns on their purported master.

They struck Pece Cubo in Gulu Municipality under cover of darkness and abducted 30 born-again Christians who had gathered to pray in a local church. Some 13 captives were set free.

Last year, the LRA burnt down churches and killed clergymen. Yesterday, gunfire rocked the municipality from 11:00pm to 1:00am when about 10 rebels infiltrated Pece-Aywe from Lakwat-Omer and Atede.

The rebels tortured Paula Adong, a teacher at Holy Rosary, and Irene Nyeko whom the rebels found at home.

They retreated towards Ogul in Paicho sub-county in Aswa county north of Gulu.

One of the freed captives said the rebels told them that their group was called ULRA but did not explain its meaning.

The rebels also looted shops about 800 metres from the town centre. The source said the captives escaped from the rebels during a brief shootout with the UPDF who had been deployed on night patrol in Pece areas.

An LC1 chairman in the area who declined to be named said the rebels vowed to kill LCs and civilians who report their (rebels') whereabouts to security.

The attack came about six months since the UPDF intensified its operations against the rebels in Gulu district when President Yoweri Museveni camped in Gulu on July 26.

The rebels attacked the same areas of Pece-Cubo, Pece Aywe and Pece Vanguard in July and burnt 26 huts.

Meanwhile, the UPDF on New Year's eve arrested a rebel with a grenade he was reportedly planning to hurl into Pece Stadium where thousands celebrated the dawn of the new year with star Roselyn Otim.