Several residents of Adjumani have fled their homes located near the Uganda-Sudan border following reports that a group of rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army had crossed into the district. Many of the residents are from Dzaipi and Ofua sub-counties, areas that were regularly targeted by the LRA during the height of their guerilla war about five years ago.
Some of the people fled into Adjumani town claiming that they heard heavy gunfire near the Uganda-Sudan border last night. They said they were alerted by church leaders from Sudan, who also sought refuge in Adjumani town, that the righting was between the LRA and the Sudanese army.
However the area Resident District Commissioner, Dudu Beka, allayed fears about the rebels return. He said the LRA does not have the capacity to re-enter Uganda because the UPDF is on high alert to repel any offensive.
The UPDF spokesperson, Chris Magezi, also dismissed the Adjumani rebel reports and in a press statement issued today said that an article in the Red Pepper newspaper which said that the LRA had entered the neighbouring Kitgum district was totally untrue.
Magezi said a group of 30 LRA rebels crossed the River Nile in Sudan heading about 40 kilometers from Nimule town. It is believed they are headed back to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Magezi said UPDF troops in Northern Uganda are on standby and no rebels will enter Uganda without a challenge. He called the Red Pepper report regrettable, inaccurate and deplorable and hoped that the resettlement of internally displaced persons would not be affected by it.
