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Ex-rebel leader dead

Alice Lakwena

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NAIROBI: Uganda's self-proclaimed prophetess Alice Lakwena (50) has died after a long illness at a refugee camp in northern Kenya, U.N. officials confirmed here on Thursday. Ms. Lakwena, who has been in exile in Kenya since 1987 after her militia was defeated by the army of President Yoweri Museveni, founded the Holy Spirit Movement in the 1980s. Her followers believed magic potions protected them in battle, but government forces defeated them. Many later regrouped to form the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by her cousin Joseph Kony. The LRA is holding talks to end the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. Ms. Lakwena continued to inspire devotion among her followers, who believed she could cure various diseases. More than 1.5 million persons have fled their homes due to the conflict and thousands of children have been abducted by the LRA. — Xinhua

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