At least 18 people were killed and others abducted during a night attack by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
The guerrillas, who have been fighting the government for 17 years, are feared for their brutality and for abducting thousands of children for use as sex slaves and front-line fighters.
The midnight raid happened at Apala village in Lira District, some 250 km (150 miles) north of the capital, Kampala, on Tuesday night.
Residents in Lira town, 50 km (30 miles) south of the scene, said at least 18 people were killed and an unknown number abducted.
The attack comes only days after the LRA ambushed two vehicles in Pader district, east of Lira, killing 10 people.
The LRA, led by self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Kony, say they are fighting to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni, but have never spelt out their demands in public.
Mr Museveni deployed more than 14,000 troops backed by helicopter gunships and tanks to crush the rebels last year, but the LRA attacks have intensified in recent months and pushed further south towards Kampala.