A senior Uganda military intelligence official says mysterious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader; Joseph Kony is still alive but is now operating purely in “survival mode”.
Maj Gen Richard Otto, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security says Kony currently has no military strength left to sustain a meaningful rebellion.
He made the remarks while addressing thousands of mourners on Saturday during the send-off ceremony of veteran broadcaster Johny Baptist Oryema, popularly known as Lacambel, at his home in Laliya Ariaga, Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City.
Gen Otto’s remarks appeared aimed at countering statements reportedly made last year by some disgruntled former LRA returnees who threatened to return to the bush over unfulfilled government promises years after returning from captivity.
Without naming the individuals, Otto warns against what he described as attempts to mislead the Acholi community into believing there was still an active LRA rebellion worth joining or starting.
The UPDF Intelligence Chief lauds Lacambel for helping the military in its operation in ending the war describing his contribution as a psychological operation that touched the heart and minds of the former fighters enabling a number of them to return home.
Although Kony remains at large and wanted on 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Court, Ugandan authorities maintain that the rebel group no longer has the capacity to wage war.
By URN
Leave a Reply