On Friday last week, news broke that a group of about 100 civilians attacked a Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) detach in Zombo district. The incident saw 22 rebels killed and two UPDF soldiers.
Reports indicate that an emergency meeting was immediately called and amongst the officials that attended include; Eng. Simon D’junga (State Minister for Energy and MP Okoro County), Grace Kwiyucwiny (State Minister for Northern Uganda and Zombo Woman MP), Lawrence Biyika (MP Ora County), Zombo RDC Andrew Kayoyingi, and top security officers among others.
According to details in today’s New Vision, security intelligence has pinned Uganda Homeland Liberation Forces (UHLF), a rebel group led by Howard Openjuru, a born of Paidha district to be behind the attack.
Openjuru has been battling charges of treason at the Army Court Martial after he and colleagues were arrested in 2016 for allegedly attacking Gulu Central Police Station where they killed several Police officers.
However, the group was released on bail but security forces reportedly say their whereabouts have since been unknown.
The national paper reports that in February 2018, Openjuru via his Facebook page posted a message threatening to oust President Museveni. He urged Ugandans to get on board and support his cause.
“In the coming days, weeks or months, be brave enough to work, fight, associate and deal with Museveni,” Openjuru allegedly said in a post.
RDC Kajoyingi said; “Preliminary investigations reveal that the group has a training ground in Kiryandongo National Park. It is where they plan from. The group is attributed to a young man in his 40s who was undergoing trials over treason at the Court Martial.”
UPDF Spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire described the move by the attackers as suicidal.