low graphics version | feedback | help
Ugandan rebels attack refugees
Kidnapped boys are made to fight alongside the rebels
Rebels in northern Uganda have killed 12 people and wounded 30 in an attack on a refugee camp.
The head of the Ugandan army, General Jeje Odongo, said that the Lord's Resistance Army had attacked Padibe camp in Kitgum District.
A missionary priest told the New Vision newspaper that two of the dead were Ugandan army soldiers and the rest were civilians.
The camp houses almost 30,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes in the north because of fighting.
General Odongo said the rebels had also attacked a Roman Catholic mission, but he had no details of casualties.
LRA attacks have resumed in recent months in spite of a peace deal signed by the presidents of Uganda and Sudan in December.
Peace deal
Under the agreement, both nations pledged to stop supporting rebel groups operating in each other's territory to pave the way to restoring diplomatic relations.
However, since then they have accused each other of violating the agreement.
The rebels, known for their brutality against civilians, have been fighting the government of President Yoweri Museveni since 1987.
They launch cross-border attacks into northern Uganda from bases inside Sudan.
LRA rebels say they follow the 10 commandments in the Bible, but have achieved notoriety for the kidnapping of thousands of Ugandan children.
They use the boys as soldiers and girls as sex slaves.
It is estimated that child soldiers make up to 80% of its forces and about 20,000 children may have been abducted over the years.
The head of the Ugandan army, General Jeje Odongo, said that the Lord's Resistance Army had attacked Padibe camp in Kitgum District.
A missionary priest told the New Vision newspaper that two of the dead were Ugandan army soldiers and the rest were civilians.
The camp houses almost 30,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes in the north because of fighting.
General Odongo said the rebels had also attacked a Roman Catholic mission, but he had no details of casualties.
LRA attacks have resumed in recent months in spite of a peace deal signed by the presidents of Uganda and Sudan in December.
Peace deal
Under the agreement, both nations pledged to stop supporting rebel groups operating in each other's territory to pave the way to restoring diplomatic relations.
However, since then they have accused each other of violating the agreement.
 President Museveni: Troops stretched by fighting in the DR Congo |
They launch cross-border attacks into northern Uganda from bases inside Sudan.
LRA rebels say they follow the 10 commandments in the Bible, but have achieved notoriety for the kidnapping of thousands of Ugandan children.
They use the boys as soldiers and girls as sex slaves.
It is estimated that child soldiers make up to 80% of its forces and about 20,000 children may have been abducted over the years.
| Search BBC News Online | |
|  Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
Country profilesSee also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Links to other Africa stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
