Nine former rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) last week surrendered to the Congolese army, bringing the total number of defectors in the last five months to 51.

The former fighters, all below 30, were on Wednesday received at the UPDF Child Protection Unit in Gulu town by 4th Division spokesman Capt. Ronald Kakurungu.

Capt. Kakurungu said they reported to the Congolese army before being handed over to the UPDF 69th battalion in Congo, and were repatriated to Uganda.

"Many of them are in disarray and not in position to defect. However, we are carrying out psychological operations through radio stations in Congo to influence them to come out," he said.

He also said fliers urging the LRA to come out and where to report are being dropped to them since most of them do not know where to report.

"Our mobile forces are trying as much as possible to see that they get a safe corridor out," Capt. Kakurungu added.

The defectors are, Maj. Joseph Okot, 2nd Lt Moses Mulalo, 2nd Lt Geoffrey Okwera, Sergeants Michael Anywar, Geoffrey Ogik, and Justine Oyet. Others are private Patrick Okello Ocii, Geoffrey Okema and Franco Ekanya, all of whom surrendered in October, 26.

They cited gaps in communication and stress from the unending war as reasons for their defection.

Capt Kakurungu said they will be granted amnesty since they voluntarily abandoned rebellion. The public relations officer of Uganda Amnesty Commission, Mr Moses Draku, confirmed that they will be granted amnesty and resettlement packages after verification and screening.

Over 12,000 former LRA and over 25,000 other combatants have so far been granted amnesty since 2000.