The Congolese government has said it will not allow the UPDF or any other foreign force to carry out military operations in its territory targeting rebels in the Great Lakes region. The foreign minister, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, said: "The military chiefs of the DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have adopted a common military strategy in Bujumbura to track down the armed groups operating in the east of the country...but it is politically unacceptable that foreign forces can operate on Congolese soil." LRA rebels have been based in Garamba Park in northeast DR Congo since the end of 2005. Read more at The New Vision.

Though most LRA activity of late has been concentrated in southern Sudan, there have been a series of seemingly uncoordinated incidents and abductions in northern Uganda. On Tuesday, there were reports of three separate confrontations between the UPDF and LRA near Oroko village in Gulu district. The previous day, a group of five LRA fighters reportedly abducted two young girls from Awere village in Pader district. This shows that small groups of LRA remain in northern Uganda and have become active since the breakdown of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement. Hopefully, the planned resumption of Juba talks this month will lead to a renewal of the CoH.

The Ugandan Government is to suspend operation licences of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in "dubious activities" in the war-torn North. The state minister for relief and disaster preparedness and refugees, Musa Ecweru, said the Government had started assessing NGOs. Based on the findings, it will decide whether to renew or withdraw their licences. Read more at The New Vision. While the Government is right to expose NGOs that are profiting from the war, many fear this recent move is more about pressuring NGOs that are exposing UPDF human rights abuses and addressing political realities of the conflict.

Ugandan security minister Amama Mbabazi on Saturday briefed diplomats of the member states of the Security Council on the threat posed by both the ADF and the LRA rebels operating from eastern DR Congo. Echoing earlier statements, Mbabazi warned that Uganda would enter Congo if its security concerns are not addressed. According to a source, Mbabazi said the LRA had used the cessation of hostilities agreement to re-arm and link up with other groups in the region, in preparation for a new offensive. One ambassador reportedly asked for evidence and intelligence reports, while another noted that internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda had briefed them a day earlier, sending a different message. Rugunda on Friday expressed optimism about the resumption of the peace talks and said a meeting would be held with the LRA from April 10 to 13. One must wonder if ministries within the Ugandan government are just disconnected, or using schizophrenic messaging for the sake of political expediency. Read more at The New Vision.

The Ugandan army has introduced 'strike forces' in several strategic areas on Karamoja roads in a bid to boost security of travellers and residents. This was announced by the UPDF 3rd Infantry Division Commanding Officer Patrick Kankiriho recently. Karimojong warriors have largely refused to give up their guns in the ongoing disarmament process. The Karimojong insisting that the weapons are for security. In response, the Ugandan army has taken military action against the area, reportedly including indiscriminate bombing. Violence in Uganda's northeast region often spills into the wider north, displacing people and causing further instability. Read more at The Monitor.