Ugandan rebels kill soldiers

LRA attacks have increased in recent days

By Will Ross BBC, Kampala

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has killed three soldiers and abducted dozens of civilians in attacks in northern Uganda over the weekend.

Despite an LRA ceasefire announced two weeks ago, the rebels attacked an army truck, killing the three soldiers, and abducted a total over 50 people in attacks in Lira and Adjumani districts.

Rebel leader Joseph Kony has declared a ceasefire

While the LRA had declared a ceasefire, President Museveni said that for the Ugandan army to follow suit, the rebels had to end attacks on army and civilian targets, stop abductions and gather at designated areas in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.

But church leaders have been trying to maintain contacts with the rebels to provide a channel of communication between them and the government.

Despite the weekend's attacks, the chairman of the religious leaders peace initiative, Bishop Odama, remained optimistic.

On Monday he said that through their efforts a link between the government and the rebels has been established and he called on both sides to sit down and talk to end the suffering.

Rocket attack

The Ugandan army spokesman, Major Shaban Bantariza, confirmed on Monday that a Ugandan army truck had been hit the previous morning. Three soldiers were killed and five injured - one seriously.

Major Bantariza said the LRA attacked the truck with a rocket-propelled grenade at Rackoko on the Lira-Kitgum road. He could not confirm other reports that two army vehicles were attacked in the district leaving a total of 10 soldiers dead.

In a separate incident on Sunday, a group of LRA rebels looted a trading centre in Olilim village in Lira district and abducted 35 civilians to carry the loot. Of these 15 have since been released.

The LRA rebels have also been active in north-west Uganda. According to Jessica Eriyo, the MP for Adjumani District, a group of about 30 LRA rebels struck the village of Kureku at 0400 local time on Sunday.

There they targeted shops, looted merchandise, burnt 19 huts and abducted dozens of civilians to carry the loot.

According to security sources in the area, the Ugandan army pursued the rebels with a helicopter. It attacked the rebels from the air and all the abducted civilians managed to escape and are now home.

Drunken soldier

In recent days, the rebels have also been attacking vehicles and stealing from the passengers.

In four separate incidents, eight civilians have been killed while travelling on the roads. The roads attacked include the Gulu-Kampala highway.

Major Bantariza could not confirm second truck attack

The Ugandan army spokesman said today that the looting was happening because the leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony, has instructed all his commanders to collect a million Ugandan shillings, which is about $500.

Major Bantariza also confirmed that over the weekend a Ugandan soldier who was supposed to be guarding the Independent hospital in the northern town of Gulu, went on an all night drinking spree and then opened fire on a Ugandan major.

The drunk soldier was immediately shot dead - the major is in hospital with several gunshot wounds to the legs.