Nine former fighters of the Lord's Resistance Army who recently escaped from captivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have returned to Gulu, northern Uganda.

The nine young men, aged between 15 and 29 were abducted years ago as children but escaped from the LRA captivity in October this year.

They reported to Congolese government forces in Faraji in Northeastern DRC before they were handed over to the Uganda People's Defence Forces who later repatriated them to Uganda.

The group arrived in Gulu on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning they were taken to the UPDF 4th Division child protection unit for debriefing before being handed over to the World Vision and Gulu Save the Children rehabilitation centers.

Among the returnees are Joseph Okot from Atiak Sub-County in Gulu, Moses Mulalu Olyel from Pajule, Geoffrey Okwera from Koro and Michael Anywar from Atanga Laceko-cot Sub-County in Pader.

Others are Justine Oyet, Geoffrey Ogik, Okello Ocii, Francis Ekanya and Geoffrey Okema.

Joseph Okot says the group decided to escape from captivity after they lost track of the rest of the LRA. He says they ran out of ammunition and food and agreed to surrender to the authorities.

Capt. Ronald Kakurunguhe, the 4th Division army spokesman says the returnees will all benefit from the government amnesty. He says the army is still willing to receive any other rebel fighters who want to surrender.

The Lord's Resistance Army reportedly splintered in December last year when the Ugandan army led an offensive against them in the dense forests of Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel groups are still active, attacking civilians in the Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

On Tuesday the United Nations Security Council condemned the attacks by the LRA and urged them to lay down their arms and surrender immediately.