US approves legislation to combat Ugandan LRA
14/05/2010
Legislation to capture the leadership of the Lord's Revolutionary Army (LRA) in Uganda has been passed by the US Congress.
The move means that President Barack Obama now has to devise a strategy over the next six months to help protect the country's civilian population from the group, the Inter Press Service News Agency reports.
According to the news provider, Democrats, Republicans and humanitarian agencies have been outraged by reports of depredations and massacres carried out by the organisation.
Democrat senator Russell Feingold commented: "I urge President Obama to sign this bill into law and quickly deploy a plan to stop [LRA leader] Joseph Kony from committing further atrocities."
Mr Feingold added that Congress is committed to ending the LRA's "reign of terror".
Activists in Uganda recently reacted with unease as the state minister for health in charge of general duties Richard Nduhura appeared to back legislation to make the deliberate transmission of HIV and AIDS in the country illegal.
Written by Simon Bassett
