UGANDA – President Yoweri Museveni has explained that the Ugandan troops are fighting alongside South Sudanese government forces against rebels.

In a Summit held in Angola, Mr. Museveni said the combined forces had defeated rebels in what he described as a big battle, adding that some Ugandan soldiers have been killed in the war.

Army spokesman Lt Col Paddy Ankunda said Uganda has about two battalions, or 1,600 soldiers, in the country.

The announcement comes as fighting continues around the cities of Bor and Malakal - government forces are moving on Bor, while the rebels are trying to seize control of Malakal.

More than 350,000 people have been displaced by the fighting and 40,000 Ugandans have been evacuated

It would be recalled that conflict broke out on 15 December, when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup - charges he denies.

The dispute has seen killings along ethnic lines - Mr Kiir is a member of the Dinka community, the country's largest, while Mr Machar is from the Nuer ethnic group.

"Only the other day, 13 January, the SPLA [South Sudan army] and elements of our army had a big battle with these rebel troops at a point about 90 kilometres [55 miles] from Juba, where we inflicted a big defeat on them.

"Unfortunately, many lives were lost on the side of the rebels. We also took casualties and also had some dead." President Museveni said.