Ugandan rebels still brutalizing civilians-UN mission in Congo

(SomaliNet) Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is in the spotlight again for its brutality against civilians.

The Ugandan rebels attacked the DRC’s eastern territory of Dungu, killing at least 52 people and abducting 159 children, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) said.

Dungu is a remote town in the north-eastern part of Congo, about 200km from the Ugandan border.

The October 10 statement was issued following a fact-finding mission in Dungu.
The investigation team heard from three children who managed to escape from their abductors.

Statements were also taken from survivors and affected families.

“LRA rebels conducted a campaign of killing, systematic abduction of children and burning of houses,” the report said.

Following the attacks, several people fled their villages to seek refuge in the town of Bangadi, over 100km northwest of Dungu.

The report also said the attacks could be in response to the deployment in the region of armed forces of the DRC, with the UN support, signaling a joint action against the rebels.

The report also cautioned that the attacks could be an attempt by the rebels to reinforce their ranks by recruiting of minors.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces described the UN report as “spot-on”.

The army spokesman in West Nile, Capt. Robert Kamara, said the report was a true reflection of what was on the ground.-New Vision