/ 15 October 1997

Uganda rebels kidnap convicts

WEDNESDAY, 2.30PM

UGANDA’S rebels attacked a jail in the northern town of Adjumani on Monday, killed two prisoners and marched the other 80 off into captivity in the bush. They also attacked the local hospital and seized all medical supplies. At the weekend, they ambushed a mini-bus and abducted all 14 passengers.

The rebels of the mystical Lord’s Resistance Army, have been engaged in a brutal war against the government for ten years, using the tactic of abducting youths and children and forcing them to become rebel soldiers. Only a week ago, the Uganda government claimed to have cornered the rebel high command, who were allegedly being starved into surrender.

Meanwhile, the Uganda government is reported to be engaged in heavy fighting with another, little known rebel group in the west of the country, the Allied Democratic Forces, who have intensified their attacks in the past year and at one point controlled the town of Bundibudyo.