By Raymond Baguma and Agencies

THE African Union (AU) has agreed to support a joint military brigade formed by Uganda, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

During a high-level meeting on Friday, the four African countries, which are affected by LRA attacks, resolved to classify LRA insurgents as terrorists rather than rebels.

The meeting, held in the CAR capital, Bangui, also agreed to set up a joint operations centre to facilitate exchange of information and intelligence. The plan also envisages joint border patrols. All this would be coordinated by a special AU representative.

Foreign affairs ministry permanent secretary James Mugume confirmed that the meeting took place, with the Ugandan delegation led by defence state minister Gen. Jeje Odongo. Also present was Uganda’s ambassador in Addis Ababa Mull Katende.

Mugume said the key issues discussed during the meeting were the establishment of the intelligence coordination centre, as well as the strengthening of joint operations.

The AU, however, did not provide the exact figures of the troops to be deployed to fight the Ugandan terrorists, whose leaders are on the wanted list of the International Criminal Court.

“Participants agreed to the following concrete measures: the creation of a joint centre of operations, the creation of a joint taskforce to lead actions against the LRA, and the deployment of joint border patrols,” the AU said in a statement.

The LRA insurgents, who were chased out of Uganda two years ago, continue to abduct and kill captives in the DR Congo, Sudan and the CAR.

The group has killed at least 2,000 people, abducted more than 2,600 and displaced 400,000 in the three countries in less than two years, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“The Ugandan group has carried out more than 240 deadly attacks. At least 344 people have been killed. In most cases, these attacks are on vulnerable, isolated communities, with indiscriminate killings, abductions, rape, mutilation, looting and destruction of property,” said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards.