Alfred Wasike And Dennis Ojwee
16 June 2003
Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni, on a state visit to the US, has accused Sudan of secretly arming Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and fuelling the insurgency in northern Uganda in a bid to expand her borders.
The Cable News Network (CNN) reported on Friday night that Uganda's northern neighbour was using Kony as a cover for her territorial expansionist ambitions.
The US-based global television network did not give further details.
Museveni, who returned home yesterday, has been in the US at the invitation of President George Bush.
While in America, he received a special award for being the first African president to endorse the Africa Growth Opportunities Act initiated by the US.
He also received praise for taking a leading role in the fight against AIDS, making Uganda a prototype for Africa in the war against the scourge resulting in the tapering down of the HIV prevalence rate.
Meanwhile, two civilians formerly held captive by Kony, have told the army that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) supplied over 400 bombs and 700 bullets to the LRA.
The two, held since 1995, also said the LRA had opened up a new military camp at Nsitu in Sudan called "Wat Odwogo," Acholi for "The relationship is back."
The UPDF spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, on Friday said he was still trying to verify that information.
"We will definitely take action after our full verification," Maj. Shaban said.
A group of the LRA under "Brigadier" Kenneth Banya is reported to have crossed into Uganda last month with between 300 and 400 fighters and captives.
Local security sources on Friday said the rebels had an assortment of guns, which included nine SPG gun shells, B-10 (anti-aircraft gun), Rocket Propelled Guns (RPG) and an MGL gun.
"I saw all the military assortment myself in March, soon after Otti (Brig. Vincent) and the LRA group under him ferried them from Sudan and they told us that the weapons were given to them by the Sudanese Army," said a former captive.
Uganda severed relations with Sudan in 1994 after the two governments accused each other of funding rebels fighting them.
But the relations had lately warmed up and Uganda was allowed to pursue Kony rebels inside Sudan.
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