By Jane Nambi

As the hunt for war lord Joseph Kony intensifies, UPDF has shot and killed the chief bodyguard of Kony.

Brig. Binani was a member of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Kony’s chief bodyguard. Col. Felix Kulayigye, the army spokesperson confirmed the kill on Sunday adding that Binani was also in charge of logistics, movement of food and abductions for the LRA. “For the chief escort to die in combat means you are close to the bone marrow. It is an encouragement; we are decimating the command structure of the LRA. We are making arrangements to bring his body to Gulu,” Kulayigye said.

Kulayigye said the UPDF deployed after intelligence got information about a group of LRA in the area. “We had not known he (Binani) was there, but we knew that it was Kony’s group,” he added. In addition to the kill, the army has also been able to rescue over 200 children and women from the LRA over the last six months.

To boost the hunt and capture of Kony, US President, Barrack Obama announced a reward for anyone who had information on the whereabouts of the rebel leader who has haunted Uganda and her neighbors close to thirty years now. The amendment updates the Rewards Programme to target those indicted by international, hybrid or mixed tribunals for genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. A reward will also be given to information leading to the capture of other top LRA commanders, Congo’s M23 rebels and Rwanda’s Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The body of Binani will be transported back to Gulu according to Col. Kulayigye.