Uganda soldiers killed in CAR
2010-06-15 13:06
Kampala - At least 10 Ugandan soldiers were killed last month while pursuing Lord's Resistance Army rebels in Central African Republic (CAR), the army spokesperson said on Tuesday.
However, Lieutenant Colonel Felix Kulayigye said an unknown Sudanese militia, not the LRA, was the likely culprit.
"It could be more than 10 killed. We are still investigating the exact number," Kulayigye said, adding he believes the Ugandans ran into a group of armed Sudanese men who had crossed the border on a hunting expedition.
Ugandan troops have been deployed in CAR since December 2008 when Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and south Sudan launched a joint offensive against the LRA.
CAR gave Uganda permission to deploy on its territory at that time due to fears that LRA chief Joseph Kony might head there to escape the offensive, Ugandan military sources have previously said.
Quoted in the government controlled New Vision newspaper on Tuesday, Uganda's army chief General Aronda Nyakairima insisted the LRA could not have carried out the attack.
Kony has "no capacity to abduct", Nykairima said, according to the New Vision. "Kony's capacity to cause trouble has been reduced. If he was causing chaos in other countries, there would be refugees in our country."
Kulayigye said on Tuesday that he was not aware if Uganda has been in touch with Sudanese government regarding the attack.
