At least 45 children abducted by Ugandan rebels have drowned in a river in the eastern part of the country over the weekend, the Ugandan army announced today.
The rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), who traditionally operate in Gulu and Kitgum districts in northern Uganda, have recently expanded their operations into eastern Uganda.
"At least 45 children drowned in the river Moroto on the weekend," Lieutenant General Jeje Odongo told journalists today.
"The rebels used the children to test whether the swollen river was passable, but the children were swept away and drowned."
The river Moroto is located more than 200 km (125 miles) northeast of the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Odongo, a former army commander, is helping coordinate the effort against the rebels who have terrorised northern Uganda by maiming villagers and abducting children for use as sex slaves and child soldiers.
Led by the self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Kony, the rebels say they are fighting to overthrow the Kampala government in order to introduce rule in line with the biblical Ten Commandments.