Kampala (Uganda), Sept 28: At least 22 people were killed after rebels fighting a 17-year insurgency attacked a village in northeastern Uganda, a local government official said today. The rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army, or LRA, attacked Olekai, 270 kilometres northeast of Kampala yesterday, killing five civilians and six members of a local civilian defence force, said Musa Echweru, the coordinator of the force in district. Eleven rebels were also killed during the attack, Echweru said over telephone from the area. The civilian defence force, known as the Arrow Boys, includes mainly former soldiers and was formed by the government about two months ago in response to increasing attacks in the area by the LRA. "The remnants of the rebels (who attacked the village) are being followed by the army and the Arrow Boys," Echweru said.
Led by Joseph Kony, who claims to have spiritual powers that can protect his fighters, the LRA is a shadowy organisation that has been fighting President Yoweri Museveni, a southerner, since his forces came to power in 1986 after a five-year bush war.
The group replenishes its ranks with youngsters it abducts to use as fighters, porters or concubines. The rebels rarely speak to journalists and could not be reached for comment.
Bureau report