Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Fides Service)- Mystery still surrounds the death of Charles Tubuley, second in command of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army). He was reportedly killed during fighting with the army last week (see Fides 5 November 2003, http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0311/03_1469.html )
Fides sources emphasised in fact that Tubuley’s body had not been located and that according to the army it was removed by LRA troops (see Fides 5 November http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0311/05_1477.html ).
“It is mainly the pro-government press which continues to talk about the death of the LRA second chief. Other papers are more sceptical, they give little credit to the government’s version” say local Fides sources.
Uganda’s independent newspaper The Monitor published testimony given by an eyewitness who escaped the rebels but saw Charles Tubuley with a shoulder wound being taken to an LRA camp in Juba in southern Sudan.
LRA continues to strike in the northern Lira district, where at least 60 people are reported to have been killed in the past few days. There were LRA raids also around Soroti south of Lira. “This area is a long way from the Sudan border where the LRA has its bases but its thick forests provide good hiding. Charles Tubuley was from this area and could rely on local complicity ” Fides local sources say.
“Judging by the results of the large scale army offensive the military option would not seem the right way to restore peace in Uganda”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/11/2003 lines 26 words 285)
