Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN

A child multilated by LRA rebels standing by Ugandan Defence Force soldiers.

Kampala — The United States deputy defence secretary, Ashton B. Carter, has hailed Uganda, describing the East African country as a key security partner.

"Uganda is an important partner for the United States and has emerged as a regional leader in addressing conflicts across Africa", said a press statement from the US embassy in Kampala on Carter's visit.

Carter met with Ugandan government officials in Kampala on Tuesday during a visit to the country that also took him to Ethiopia and Israel.

The US deputy defence secretary said the United States is offering continued support to Uganda in the fight against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan rebel group that has increasingly become a source of security problem in the Great Lakes region.

"As part of a comprehensive approach to countering the LRA, the US military is advising and assisting the UPDF (Uganda Peoples Defence Force) and other regional partner forces in an effort to bring [LRA leader] Joseph Kony and his top lieutenants to justice", the US embassy statement said.

The US official also thanked the Ugandan government for its contributions towards improving security in the Great Lakes region, particularly threats posed by the LRA and terrorism.

During his visit to Uganda, Carter also met American personnel deployed by his government to help regional forces in the fight against LRA rebels.

In October 2011, US president Barrack Obama sent 100 special forces to Uganda to provide support to regional forces in the hunt for the elusive LRA leader.

According to its mandate, US special forces are tasked with offering advice to local forces and are not permitted to engage in fighting unless in self-defence.