Fighting resumed between Ugandan troops and northern rebels of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) today after a temporary truce to facilitate peace talks ran out.
President Yoweri Museveni said in a New Year message the army would now attack the LRA until it vowed to disarm.
During the past 18 years, the cult-like rebel group has abducted more than 20,000 children according to World Vision, forcing boys to fight and using the girls as sex slaves. More than 1.6 million people have fled their homes in the north. The rebels routinely target civilians, burning and dismembering victims including women, children and babies.
Today's fighting follows a decision by both sides to postpone the planned signing yesterday of a landmark total ceasefire because the rebels wanted more time to study truce terms offered by the government at talks earlier this week, negotiators said.