People's Redemption Army
Encyclopedia
People's Redemption Army (PRA) is a Uganda
n rebel group whose existence is disputed. The Government of Uganda
has asserted its existence for several years, although it has occasionally called the rebel group "dormant". The rebel group is allegedly based in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC Congo), founded by renegade Uganda
n army officers, and estimated (in 2004) to consist of around 2,000 rebels. In December 2004, Ugandan army
deployed troops along the border with DRC Congo, saying that the rebel group was preparing to attack Uganda.
The leader of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change
(FDC) and the main contender for the presidency in the 2006 Elections
, Kizza Besigye
, was arrested on November 14, 2005, accused of being the "political leader of the PRA", sparking demonstrations and violent riots in his support. Besigye denied any links with PRA, and accused the government of conjuring up the rebel group.
On November 9, 2005, the UN Special Representative to Democratic Republic of the Congo, William Lacy Swing, implicated PRA as one of the foreign armed groups operating in eastern DRC Congo. FDC then petitioned the UN, protesting the statement. An FDC representative said, "The statement by Swing, which alleges the existence of a shadowy rebel movement, has caused consternation and widespread concern, even antipathy towards the United Nations, among the people of Uganda," and added that "Specifically, the people of Uganda would like to know the strength, location, leadership and financiers of the PRA, if in fact such a group does exist".
A Uganda army spokesman said on November 16, 2005 that the army was deployed to help the police with the riots that followed Kizza Besigye
's arrest, and that security had been increased at all borders because "We know PRA exists and are likely to attack".
In April 2006, the Rwanda
n president, Paul Kagame
, said that a lot has been talked about the PRA and its links with Rwanda, but that the PRA is fictitious and the creation of the Ugandan government.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n rebel group whose existence is disputed. The Government of Uganda
Politics of Uganda
Uganda is a presidential republic, in which the President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government; there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly...
has asserted its existence for several years, although it has occasionally called the rebel group "dormant". The rebel group is allegedly based in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC Congo), founded by renegade Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n army officers, and estimated (in 2004) to consist of around 2,000 rebels. In December 2004, Ugandan army
Uganda People's Defence Force
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
deployed troops along the border with DRC Congo, saying that the rebel group was preparing to attack Uganda.
The leader of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change
Forum for Democratic Change
The Forum for Democratic Change , founded on December 16, 2004, is the main opposition party in Uganda. FDC was founded as an umbrella body mostly for disenchanted former members and followers President Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement...
(FDC) and the main contender for the presidency in the 2006 Elections
Ugandan general election, 2006
The Ugandan general election of 2006 took place on February 23, 2006. This was the first multiparty election since Yoweri Museveni, the current president, took over power in 1986. Six candidates contested for the Presidential office, and at least 33 parties were expected to enter the Parliamentary...
, Kizza Besigye
Kizza Besigye
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe, commonly known as Kizza Besigye, is a Ugandan physician, politician and former military officer, in the in the UPDF. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change political party...
, was arrested on November 14, 2005, accused of being the "political leader of the PRA", sparking demonstrations and violent riots in his support. Besigye denied any links with PRA, and accused the government of conjuring up the rebel group.
On November 9, 2005, the UN Special Representative to Democratic Republic of the Congo, William Lacy Swing, implicated PRA as one of the foreign armed groups operating in eastern DRC Congo. FDC then petitioned the UN, protesting the statement. An FDC representative said, "The statement by Swing, which alleges the existence of a shadowy rebel movement, has caused consternation and widespread concern, even antipathy towards the United Nations, among the people of Uganda," and added that "Specifically, the people of Uganda would like to know the strength, location, leadership and financiers of the PRA, if in fact such a group does exist".
A Uganda army spokesman said on November 16, 2005 that the army was deployed to help the police with the riots that followed Kizza Besigye
Kizza Besigye
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe, commonly known as Kizza Besigye, is a Ugandan physician, politician and former military officer, in the in the UPDF. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change political party...
's arrest, and that security had been increased at all borders because "We know PRA exists and are likely to attack".
In April 2006, the Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n president, Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
, said that a lot has been talked about the PRA and its links with Rwanda, but that the PRA is fictitious and the creation of the Ugandan government.