But correspondents say that these attacks demonstrate that the rebels are still active.

The LRA says it wants to rule Uganda according to the Biblical Ten Commandments but it has abducted thousands of children from northern Uganda.

Boys are used as fighters, while many girls become sex slaves of the LRA commanders.

The three people were killed when their truck - the last vehicle in a convoy of vehicles - was fired at, said assistant district commissioner for Gulu, Semei Okwii.

"They rained the vehicle with bullets and three people have been confirmed dead. The driver continued driving and did not stop," he said.

Looting

Earlier on Monday, rebel fighters looted shops and abducted 14 people from the Icheme trading centre south-east of Gulu said James Odida, the district police commander.

Civilians suffer the most from the fighting

The civilians were kidnapped and forced to help them carry looted property back to their base, Mr Odida told Associated Press news agency.

"But we hear that some of the abducted people are on their way back.

"Authorities are trying to deploy soldiers to guard (Icheme). The soldiers are also deployed to guard institutions in the area," he said.