The LRA have kidnapped hundreds of children

The rebels are based in camps in government-held territory in south Sudan - and periodically cross the border to abduct young people, loot property and ambush vehicles.

Since February this year the north has been relatively peaceful.

However, in the past two weeks there has been an upsurge of incidents - including a rebel ambush in which a 71-year-old Italian missionary was shot dead.

Fears

Mr Ochora told me that people in Gulu were now anxious about the future, particularly as rebels recently dropped a letter in which they threatened to begin killing 2000 people a month from November.

The army commander, Major-General Jeje Odongo,� was due to travel to Gulu on Wednesday to brief the commanders in the region and try and work out the cause of the current problems.

It is not clear what has sparked off the latest violence.

However, the attacks come as Uganda and Sudan have been meeting to find ways to normalise relations.

Among their resolutions are that the LRA should be relocated 1000 km (625 miles) north of Uganda's border, a decision which is unlikely to please the rebels.