KAMPALA, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Unknown gunmen on Sunday abducted about 50 people in Kyenjojo district in western Uganda, but the abducted managed to escape, police said Tuesday.

    The Kyenjojo District Police Commander, James Ocaya told Xinhua by telephone the two gunmen wielding a sub machine gun, a panga and axes stormed the villages of Rubanga, Kakuba and Bisanja in Mwenge North county in Kyenjojo.

    He said that the gunmen broke into villagers houses using hammers at about 3 a.m. (2200 GMT Saturday) local time on Sunday.

    He said the gunmen abducted about 50 people and forced them to walk towards Muzizi forest on the border of Kyenjojo and Kibaale district.

    He noted that the victims were tied together with banana fibers and sisal ropes.

    "Those who were not cooperative sustained injuries. Some sustained cuts on their legs and heads. Another man's ear was chopped off," said Ocaya.

    He said that when it was day break all the victims managed to escape from the gunmen.

    Ocaya dismissed claims that there were rebels who abducted the people.

    "Those two man were simply thugs who wanted to get money from the villagers. They can not be regarded as rebels," said Ocaya.

    There is speculation that the two gunmen were rebels. In July 1997 rebels of the Allied Democratic Front made their first attack in Mpondwe, Kasese district and later spread to other parts of western Uganda. Enditem