Barbara Among and Agencies
13 April 2008
Kampala — THE LRA second-in- command, Okot Odhiambo, is feared dead.
Rebel chief Joseph Kony killed Odhiambo and eight others after a disagreement over the peace agreement, sources said yesterday.
But minister for international affairs and deputy leader of the Government delegation to Juba talks, Okello Oryem, dismissed the reports.
However, rebel sources said differences over the peace deal triggered gun battles among them.
Odhiambo's death was one of the reasons for the failure to sign last Thursday the final peace pact, which would have ended a 20-year long war, a source on the LRA peace delegation said.
"He was killed by Kony, just a few weeks before the set date to the signing of the truce. That is why he asked me for a new satellite phone to conceal Odhiambo's death."
Odhiambo's two satellite phones were switched off yesterday.
The fearless and ruthless rebel commander, and Kony are wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
If confirmed dead, Odhiambo would be the latest commander to be killed by Kony. The cultic rebel leader executed his deputy Vicent Otti last October after accusing him of spying for the Government and replaced him with Odhiambo.
Acholi paramount chief Rwot David Acana told Reuters: "I have got similar information, that nine lives have been lost in the LRA after an internal clash."
Former LRA intelligence and field operation commander Kenneth Banya said: "When we went for the signing of the truce (on Thursday), those boys were really in for peace. They begged us to ensure that the deal is signed. That man (Kony) is now mad, I can't rule out that (he killed him)." Reacting to the Odhimabo's death reports, minister Oryem said: "That is not true. It's just rumours being spread by those sacked by Kony."
Asked about the next course of action, Oryem said, the Government would not extend the ceasefire agreement for the LRA.
The truce expired on February 28. It had been meant to enable the LRA assemble at Ri-Kwangba, where the peace deal should have been signed.
"We shall only extend the truce if Kony appear," said the minister.
Gulu Resident District Commissioner Walter Ochora dismissed the death reports as propaganda.
"I have not heard such reports."
When Kony left the Central Africa Republic for Ri-Kwangba, Ochora added, he left commanders Dominic Ongwen and Okot Odhiambo in charge.
"These two later followed him into Congo." Ochora also dismissed reports of infighting among the LRA. "If there was such an incident, I would have known."
In a related development, President Yoweri Museveni is today expected to hold talks with South Sudan president Salva Kiir on the way forward on the stalled talks.
"The President is still willing to move the process forward, including finding a new mediator or a new venue," said Oryem.
Ugandan intelligence is tight-lipped on the next move. "Let's wait for tomorrow's meeting," said security chief Amama Mbabazi.
The UN envoy to the north, Joaquim Chissano, arrived on the remote border town of Ri-Kwangba yesterday and did not comment on the matter. Kony was due to sign a final agreement on Thursday but failed to turn up and asked mediators to clarify part of the document.
He later fired the head of his negotiating team, David Matsanga.
The new spokesman James Obita said Kony was ready to sign but wanted guarantees of safety and financial security .
Acholi paramount chief said Kony told him that he sacked Matsanga because he "rushed the peace process for money".
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