KAMPALA, Oct 2, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Hundreds of people in Teso, northern Uganda are leaving their villages for the safety following an attack on Angica and Iyalakwe Internally Displaced Persons' (IDPs) camps in Amuria district by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, local press reported on Sunday.
Panic-stricken residents said the rebels attacked the camps on Wednesday and Friday, killing Michael Omoji, an official of Adungo village in Obalanga parish.
The rebels, who reportedly numbered about 50, burnt over 30 huts.
A 14-year-old girl and a four-year-old girl are believed to have been abducted and are still missing.
Chairman of Obalanga parish John Patrick Erau was quoted as saying that the rebels were believed to have entered Teso sub- region two weeks ago but they remained out of sight as they studied the security in the area.
The Ugandan army has warned that the LRA rebels had split into three groups. One of the groups, under deputy commander Vincent otti, recently crossed into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The other remained with rebel commander Joseph Kony in southern Sudan, while the another has been launching isolated attacks in northern Uganda.
LRA rebels have killed tens of thousands of civilians, displaced over 1.4 million people in their 19-year rebellions in northern Uganda.