9 July 2009
Kampala — SOME Kenyans and Kenya-based organisations have been assisting the new rebel group, known as the Uganda People's Front (UPF), security minister Amama Mbabazi has said.
Briefing Parliament yesterday about the arrest of suspected UPF rebels, Mbabazi said the suspects confessed that their rebel group had its headquarters in Nairobi.
"One or two Congolese and some Kenyans and other foreigners, as well as organisations based in Kenya, have extended assistance of one form or another," Mbabazi said. He did not name the organisations or individuals involved.
The group, he added, had coordination lines with elements in the UK and US, and had been holding meetings in Nairobi to re-launch a new phase of recruitment in Northern Uganda.
"Financial and other material support came mainly from Ugandans living abroad who coordinated and financed LRA but were sidelined by Joseph Kony during the Juba peace talks. They have since been trying to form another armed group," Mbabazi said.
He said some of the people coordinating the activities of the group, such as Alex Okot and Komakech Ali, were arrested and detained in Luzira in 2006 as members of the LRA, but were later granted amnesty.
"Some key leaders are still on the run but their time is running out and the law will soon catch up with them," he said.
The group, he added, was preparing to start ambushes on Kampala-Karuma road and attacks on military units in areas around Murchison National Park.
He said that intelligence first received information in September 2008 about new recruitments in areas of Bweyale, Kigumba and Kiryadongo in Masindi district to be sent for training in a camp that had been established in Murchison Park.
When security forces conducted operations in the areas, they netted 15 suspects, out of whom 6 were charged in a Masindi court with treason and misprison of treason.
He named the six as Odaga Owonga, Ochama James, Owundo Charles, Jama John, Okoko Oburu and Odokogwok Salim.
The training camp in Murchison was overrun and destroyed, and the military recovered an SMG, 10 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade and a pair of camouflage uniform.
"Having neutralised UPF's mobilisation attempts in Masindi, the group changed tactics and started clandestine mobilisation in Gulu, Amuru and Pader districts. Operations led to the arrest of their coordinator, Patrick Komakech, in Namuwongo, Kampala, in March this year," Mbabazi said.
Komakech was found with a satellite phone, a global positioning system, a solar panel, first aid kits and documents, which led to the arrest of four other key leaders of UPF in Gulu and Pader.
They are Alex Okot, also known as "Fifteen" (Apar abic), the chairman for Uganda mobilisation, Patrick Otim , the Pader mobiliser responsible for ammunition, Lt. Phillips Okello and Lt. Emmy Mwaka, former LRA members who had been integrated in UPDF.
On June 5 another suspect was arrested, identified as John Otim, believed to be the main link with Joshua Abonga, based in Nairobi.
Also recovered subsequent to the June 5 arrest were 17 submachine guns hidden in Latanya hills, 37 walkie-talkies, two satellite phones, a solar panel, 21 pairs of gumboots, five rolls of polythene sheets, five back packs, a satellite charger, a first aid kit, a GPS, two laptop computers, as well as a plastic boat and life jacket.
"Another two suspects, Patrick Kidega and Sgt. Deo Menya, a Police officer in the emergency mobile unit, have been arrested and the process of charging them is underway," he said.
Mbabazi assured the people of the North that the peace restored there will not be interrupted, and that security is working around the clock to maintain stability.
Reacting to the minister's statement, Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal (Independent) demanded that the suspects be released while investigations are going on.
Pader Woman MP Akello Franca (FDC) demanded that the minister reveals the names of MPs allegedly involved in the new rebel recruitments.
"Enough is enough. Let the MPs be mentioned. We don't want to be intimidated," she said. In response, Mbabazi said they had so far not found any evidence implicating any MP.
Responding to some concerns raised, Mbabazi said the courts should be given a chance to do their work. Not all the people arrested were charged because some of them were found to be innocent, he noted.
Reacting to questions on the involvement of Gulu LC5 chairman Norbert Mao, he said the latter will have to explain how he came in contact with the people from whom he got the document that spelt out the group's plans.
He added that they knew Mao was in possession of the document for at least two months before he spoke about it but they did not arrest him. "I have respect for Mao as a person. I think he is a young promising Ugandan. The problem is that he is not in the right place politically." On the possibility of attacking Nairobi to rout out the collaborators, he said such an issue could not arise.
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Museveni is among the most rotten president in Africa, though he enjoying the ridiculous and flattering support from the west.These are mere propaganda he's using to track down all his suspect oponents , only that. But in reality there is no rebelion under construction.Him and he 's stupid people on powere use and have always used this system to get rid off his prosepctive opponents. There are many evidences . But his days are numbered!!!!!!!!!! I say again, Museveni your days are numbered One day , ugandan people will stand as one man and they'll topple you peacefully or… [Read Full Text]