Kampala — The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has deployed soldiers to track down the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader, Joseph Kony, the UPDF 4th division intelligence officer, Maj. Victor Opera, has disclosed.

"Kony is trying to move towards the corridors of Southern Sudan and Central African Republic. All efforts are being done to ensure that all those areas are blocked. We shall not withdraw our troops until our mission is completed," Opera said.

He was speaking while parading eight LRA mothers and two children before journalists. They were rescued in various operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The children, only identified as Oyella, 4, and Adyero, 2, looked sickly and malnourished. They arrived at the Gulu UPDF Children Protection Unit on Tuesday.

"We rescued these women and children from the LRA groups led by Maj. Gen. Acellam Caesar, Brig. Ocan Bunia and Maj. Lakwor. This shows that our forces are continuing to pursue the rebels," Opera said.

He added that the UPDF had deployed 150 soldiers to arrest Kony, who is believed to be hiding in the areas of Bili and Raza in CAR.

Opera noted that according to intelligence reports, Acellan has only 18 fighters, Lakwor has eight and Ocan has four. Of the four, two are armless. He said the estimated number of LRA rebels is 220, with 30 to 40 hiding in Congo.

Grace Akot, 22, narrated that she was part of Acellam's group when the UPDF attacked their camp early this month.

Akot, who hails from Padibe sub-county in Lamwo district, said an LRA sergeant, only identified as Opio, was killed by the UPDF during the attack.

Another rescued woman, Evelyn Ayaa, 24, who was part of Lakwor's group, said the rebels now move in small groups to evade UPDF attacks.