President blames army for village massacre by rebels

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni apologised yesterday for a rebel attack in northern Uganda last weekend that killed dozens of people, and blamed it on army mistakes.

Visiting the area where officials say 200 civilians were hacked, shot and burned alive at a refugee camp, Mr Museveni said the army should never have allowed the attack to occur.

He recalled the regional commander for more training. “It’s very sad. On behalf of the government, or the army, I apologise to the people because the mistake is on the side of the army,” Mr Museveni said after visiting a hospital packed with survivors.

“They (the army) did not co-ordinate well but we have got a long struggle, we shall overcome,” he said.

Rebels with the Lord’s Resistance Army raided the Barlonyo camp Saturday, shooting some people and burning others in their homes.

In a statement to the State-owned New Vision newspaper, Mr Museveni said the army shouldn’t have allowed the camp to be set up and didn’t protect it properly.

The troops there didn’t notify other units of the attack until it was over and the rebels had fled, he said.

Local officials and witnesses put the death toll at more than 200, but Museveni said 84 people died. Earlier, the army had also put the toll at 84, but some officials accused the army of playing down the violence so it wouldn’t appear weak.

About 5,000 people lived in the refugee camp, which was guarded by 30 members of a local defence unit. They were outgunned and quickly overpowered.

The army is sweeping the countryside for the insurgents, but has so far not reported finding any of them.

The violence raised questions about the Ugandan government’s claims it is defeating the shadowy Lord’s Resistance Army, which has abducted thousands of children to use as fighters, smugglers and sex slaves.