LRA activity restricts relief efforts

Ongoing insecurity due to the presence and sporadic operations of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has meant that relief efforts for displaced and vulnerable populations have remained largely suspended in the northern Gulu and Kitgum districts, according to the OCHA report. Though there is a large presence of humanitarian agencies in the two districts, most operations are limited to towns because they lack security clearance to go into the field very often. The LRA has rejected the government's amnesty law and continues to launch attacks in the area. The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) on Tuesday killed Lt-Col Onen Kamdulu, second in command of the Opiro group of the LRA that had been active in Gulu district, during a fierce battle at Kilak Hills in Adjumani district, the semi-official 'New Vision' reported. That was the first serious clash between the LRA and UPDF since late March and thwarted planned LRA abductions from Lira and Gulu districts, the report quoted acting 4th Division Commander Colonel Julius Oketta as saying.