Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent, reports that five civilians including the deputy speaker of Gulu Municipal Council have been arrested by the UPDF over alleged collaboration with the LRA rebels. According to the charge, the five gave assistance to the LRA in the form of bullets, gum boots, satellite phones and one million Ug. shillings. The deputy speaker Gulu Municipal Alex Okot rejected the claim by the army. He instead said the army shot a bullet between his legs during the time of his arrest and seriously tortured him while in a dark house at the barrack. When contacted for comment, UPDF Northern Spokesman Lt. Chris Magezi said he never received any information about the arrest of the five people.

WASHINGTON D.C. - Uganda-CAN will today deliver a petition to the U.S. President and key members of Congress demanding that they take the lead in ending the war in northern Uganda. The petition, signed by 8,744 Americans and distributed by Uganda-CAN, calls on President Bush and the U.S. Congress to make ending the 20 year war in northern Uganda a priority.

"We believe President Bush and the U.S. government can and must do more to end this crisis," said Fr. Bill Dyer, Executive Director of AFJN, Uganda-CAN's parent organization. "Through a number of decisive steps, the United States can effectively contribute to peace and development in the region."

The petition urges the United States to provide "sustained political and diplomatic attention" to the crisis by appointing a high-profile envoy to support mediation and bolster regional cooperation in ending the war. It further calls on the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to develop a plan to monitor human rights and increase humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the conflict.

"The nearly 9,000 people who signed this petition—and more each day—are realizing that the horrors experienced by children in Uganda are preventable," said Michael Poffenberger, Uganda-CAN co-founder and AFJN Associate Director. "Through this petition and other actions, we are building a movement of people who demand that our leaders take responsibility to protect life in Uganda."