Loosening-Konys-Grip-July-2013-FINAL

ANNEX III. PROFILES OF SELECT UGANDAN LRA COMMANDERSThis Annex contains profiles of select Ugandan LRAcommanders, including their reported location as ofApril 2013, unless otherwise noted. Bios are absentfor senior commanders about whom there is little orno available information, including some group commanderslisted in Annex II. Bios are also absent forprominent LRA commanders reportedly killed in recentyears, such as Otto Agweng and Otim Ferry.Though military ranks within the LRA are intended todemonstrate the existence of an institutional hierarchy,in practice Joseph Kony has absolute authority to approveor change ranks at will. Throughout the LRA’shistory, he has often changed command assignmentspersonally, ignored conventional military commandstructures, and given direct orders to individual commandersof all ranks. He has also ensured that an officer’srank does not necessarily correlate with the levelof responsibility he has, the number of commanders heleads, or his years of experience within the LRA.This dynamic reinforces Kony’s role as the undisputedcenter of the LRA’s universe by ensuring that everycommander’s position depends on Kony’s decisionsand not on any coherent institutional logic that couldfunction without him. It also creates intense competitionamong commanders, as Kony also uses the practiceof awarding rank to determine access to food rations,servants, and even women.A. LRA commanders in CongoDenis ObolOther names: Lawang Acel (One Eyed)Rank: MajorAge/DOB: 36 or 37Origin/place of birth: Pajule, Pader districtLocation as of April 2013: Congo, near BangadiObol was abducted in 1992 from Pajule and was initiallyan escort to Abudema Bok. After the LRA movedto South Sudan, Obol was trained in artillery supportand became a lieutenant in 1996 after he lost his eye inbattle with South Sudanese rebels. After the Ugandanmilitary launched Operation Iron Fist in 2002, Obolmoved with top commander Raska Lukwiya’s group.After Ugandan soldiers shot Lukwiya, Obol joinedDominic Ongwen’s group. He moved with Ongwento Congo from Uganda, one of the last LRA groups todo so. He remained a support commander with Ongwenin Garamba, and also stayed with Achellam Smart“Ojara.” After Otti’s death in 2007, he was a commanderin Central Brigade, initially under Okot Odek andthen Binany. Obol stayed under Binany’s leadershipat least until 2011 when he moved to CAR and tookover Okello Okutti’s group. By 2013, he was reportedlyoperating in Congo, near the town of Bangadi in HautUele district.B. LRA commanders in CARAlphonse LamolaOther names: NARank: ColonelAge/DOB: Early 40sOrigin/place of birth: Omeri, Gulu districtLocation as of April 2013: CAR, Mbomou prefecture,along Chinko river north of the intersection of Chinkoand Vovodo riversAbducted at some point in the mid-1990s, Lamola wasa lieutenant within the LRA by 1999. He served in theLRA’s Meno Battalion in South Sudan under the commandof Owor Lakati before moving to Safo battalionunder Raska Lukwiya.A bodyguard to Kony for a long time, Lamola rose tobecome Kony’s chief bodyguard when he moved toGaramba National Park in the spring of 2006. Laterthat year, he was placed in charge of the High ProtectionUnit (HPU), the main security group overseeingall units tasked with protecting Kony and his families,but was later replaced by Otto Agweng. Lamola wasthen given the leadership of a small unit, one of threecomposing the external wing of HPU, tasked withprotecting Kony’s camp. Lamola was often selected tomove with Kony to Nabanga and establish a securityperimeter ahead of Kony’s arrival.Dominic OngwenRank: BrigadierAge/DOB: 1980Origin/place of birth: Paibona, Gulu districtLocation as of April 2013: In Kibwola’s group in CAR,Mbomou prefecture, north of intersection of Vovodoand Chinko riversAfter his abduction in 1990, Ongwen was placed in the“household” of Vincent Otti, a senior LRA commander.Ongwen grew close to Otti, who eventually rose tobe Kony’s chief deputy before Kony ordered his execu-LOOSENING KONY’S GRIP | 58