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Uganda

Ugandan president's convoy attacked by gunmen: official

KAMPALA, Feb 13, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Ugandan president's convoy was on Saturday attacked and shot at by unidentified gunmen between 9:

30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. (1830-1900 GMT) in Moroto district, eastern Uganda, state-owned newspaper The New Vision reported on Monday.

Presidential Guard Brigade spokesman Lt. Edison Kwesiga told the newspaper on Sunday that "the president and the rest of his entourage escaped unhurt."

The spokesman said that a group of armed elements on the night of Saturday shot at the presidential convoy when it was returning from Kotido to Mororinga State Lodge.

"This took place about 10 km from Mororinga State Lodge near Kangole trading center. However, the president is safe and carrying on with his campaigns," the spokesman said.

He said, "the group, whose identity is yet to be established, fired bullets we believe were from a machinegun and small rifles. They fired at the advance armored vehicle that forms part of the presidential convoy."

"The vehicle was not damaged at all. Our firepower overwhelmed the enemy, who took off in disarray," he said.

"This attack on the convoy is not typical of the Karimojong rustlers because it is not known of them to attack long convoys. There is also another reason to believe that this is completely a different group of armed elements because of the weapons they used, " the spokesman explained.

He added that investigations were on to establish the identity of the attackers.

President Yoweri Museveni, as presidential candidate representing the ruling National Resistance Movement for the February 23 general elections, is currently in campaigns in northeastern part of the east African country.