Agency
A senior Uganda military intelligence official has said elusive 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 said on Saturday that 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.
Without naming the individuals, Otto warned 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 lauded 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.
In his homily, Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese John Baptist Odama lauded Lacambel for his passion for peace building and called on the young people in the subregion to emulate his legacy.
Archbishop Emeritus Odama who took part in the peace process in Northern Uganda also lauded the various stakeholders who cooperated with the deceased in trying to achieve his efforts in promoting peace.
Former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda who is also the Vice Chancellor of Gulu University in a message described Lacambel as a distinguished journalist whose broadcasts became a symbol of hope for communities affected by the LRA oconflict.
Dr Rugunda praised Lacambel’s work on Mega FM, particularly his peace broadcasts that encouraged abductees and combatants to return home in a message read by Prof George Ladaah Openjuru, the Gulu University Vice Chancellor.
Lt Gen Charles Otema Awany, the UPDF Reserves Forces Commander presented UGX 20M at the burial as condolence from Gen Saleh to be handed to the bereaved family members of Lacambel.
Lacambel passed on May 31 this year from St Mary’s Hospital Lacor after years of battle with health complications.
The LRA insurgency led by Joseph Kony devastated northern Uganda for more than two decades, causing mass displacement, killings and abductions before the rebels were pushed out of Uganda.
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.
