Uganda pulls troops from mission to catch warlord Kony

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2006 file photo, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army Joseph Kony answers journalists' questions following a meeting with UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland at Ri-Kwangba in southern Sudan. Uganda's military says it has started pulling its forces from Central African Republic, where troops had been pursuing one of Africa's most notorious fugitives, Joseph Kony. (AP Photo/Stuart Price, File,) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this July 31, 2006 file photo, Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, speaks during a meeting with a delegation of 160 officials and lawmakers from northern Uganda. Uganda's military says it has started pulling its forces from Central African Republic, where troops had been pursuing one of Africa's most notorious fugitives, Joseph Kony. (AP Photo, File) (The Associated Press)

KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda's military says it has started pulling its forces from Central African Republic, where troops had been pursuing one of Africa's most notorious fugitives, Joseph Kony.

Ugandan army spokesman Brig. Richard Karemire said the mission to neutralize the Lord's Resistance Army "has now been successfully achieved." He said the first group of troops returned home on Wednesday.

Although Kony is still at large, Karemire says the rebel group has been decimated by defections and "is now weak and ineffective."

Uganda's move follows the United States' decision last month to pull out of the international manhunt for Kony. The U.S. Africa Command said the LRA's active membership is now less than 100.

Ugandan troops have been deployed in Central African Republic under an African Union force.