Civilians killed

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 6

Civilians killed

NZPA Kampala Five civilians were killed by Uganda Army soldiers during a church service at Kalhsa, about 50km north of Kampala, area residents have said.

The civilians were among 5000 people who fled their homes last December during anti-guerrilla operations by the Army in the area north of Kampala. They had returned to Kalasa only two days before the attack, on Sunday. Residents said that about 30 soldiers arrived at Kalasa about 10 a.m. on Sunday and began looting homes and firing their automatic rifles in the air.

The congregation attending services at Katiiti church panicked when the shooting began and fled. Reports confirmed in Kampala said that five civilians were grabbed by the soldiers during the

commotion and shot dead in the church compound. For the last year, bands of guerrillas, who say that President Milton Obote rigged his election in December, 1980, have been attacking Government and military installations. The Army has retaliated by conducting anti-guerrilla operations in which Church and Opposition leaders claim thousands of innocent civilians have been killed.