Kampala — BRITAIN has called on the Government to respect and respond positively to the ceasefire announced by Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) over the weekend, reports Richard Mutumba.

"We welcome the ceasefire announced by the LRA. though still fragile, it could be an important beginning in realising lasting peace. We hope the government will respond positively," the British High Commissioner, Adam Wood, said yesterday.

Wood speaking at a ceremony where the World Food Programme (WFP) formally thanked the British government for contributing to the northern Uganda emergency food relief operation.

The function took place at the WFP Nalukolongo warehouse.

in January Britain boosted the northern Uganda emergency food basket with a donation of £1.6m (sh4.6b).

Britain's contribution through its Department for International Development (DfID) was the first to respond to WFP's 2003 emergency appeal to donors. The country has donated an estimated sh7.2b since April 2002, the DfID office in Kampala said.

Wood said Britain's contribution of relief supplies was a short-term solution, adding that a long-term solution of ending the conflict was necessary.

The DfID office said in a statement yesterday that the January donation was in addition to another one of sh1.7b made just before Christmas for emergency food distribution in the north.

WFP country director Ken Noah Davies, attended the function.