Hundreds of heavily armed LRA combatants who have been assembling at Owiny-Kibul, one of the two assembly points in southern Sudan, in the last few weeks have mysteriously disappeared. "By last night the LRA who were assembled had dispersed and our intelligence shows that the bulk of them are moving westwards towards the River Nile," UPDF spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye told journalists yesterday. The UPDF said they could not guarantee security of the journalists and the diplomats now that the LRA were at large. Read more at The New Vision.

The UN reports that the security situation in northern Uganda has continued to improve throughout the month of September, attributed dominantly to the cessation of hostilities truce reached last month. An unknown number of LRA fighters have moved to Owiny Kibul, the designated assembly point in Southern Sudan. On their way through Kitgum and Pader, the LRA were reported to have interacted freely with the civilian population, requesting for food, medicine and transport. Plans are underway by the government for displaced peoples in those districts and especially those in the outlying Langi region, to begin resettlement.

Self-exiled priestess and former leader of the Holy Spirit Movement (1986-1987) Alice Lakwena has denied links with Joseph Kony and the LRA. Lakwena is angered by insinuations that her movement is linked to Kony’s LRA and that she is Kony’s nephew. Kenya's Sunday Nation found the 48-year-old at the Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab northern Kenya, where she is a traditional healer. Her mud hut on block 24 is reportedly set in the neatest compound in the camp. Lakwena fled to Kenya in 1987 after her rebel HSM was defeated. Read more at The New Vision.

While there has been no fighting between UPDF forces and LRA rebels, various criminal groups operating in northern Uganda appear to be increasing their activities and filling the void left by the cessation of LRA hostilities. These groups may post serious and real security threats in the region if their activities are blamed on either party involved in the longstanding conflict. Media should thus be cautious and sensitive in reporting on any criminal acts that occur in northern Uganda.

Col. Charles Otema, the Commander of the 4th Division in Gulu on Saturday presented a LRA "Brig." Muhammed Adriko who was captured in West Nile where he was reportedly trying to abduct and recruit in preparation for Kony's "Plan B" should the Juba talks fail. Adriko, who was captured by UPDF on August 28 in Nebbi, revealed that the LRA had planned to recruit and join other rebel groups in Congo. Read more at The Monitor.

In the month of August, the security situation in northern Uganda has continued to improve, though the number of attacks by the LRA increased slightly from July. In August, two civilians were killed and nine abducted by LRA rebels. Most of these incidents were closely related to UPDF-LRA confrontations. However, there are no reported incidents since the cessation of hostilities signed last weekend.