Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni (L) and Rebecca Garang in Rwakitura on Thursday. PPU PHOTO.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni (L) and Rebecca Garang in Rwakitura on Thursday. PPU PHOTO.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has held a meeting with Mrs. Rebecca Garang, the wife of the late Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement(SPLM) leader Gen John Garang. 

The meeting took place on Thursday morning at the President’s country home in Rwakitura, western Uganda.

The President and Mrs Garang who is also a Senior Advisor to Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit discussed the security situation in South Sudan especially the recent events that occurred after the conflict and uprising in South Sudan.

They also discussed matters of mutual interest between the two brotherly countries.

Meanwhile, South Sudan’s rebels are strengthening their defences in the key city of Bentiu in anticipation of a government offensive to recapture it.

Heavily armed men looted Bentiu’s city centre, while thousands of residents fled to a UN base, a UN official said.

At least 1,000 people have been killed in fighting since 15 December.

Regionally brokered talks to declare a ceasefire have stalled.

More than 200,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.

The army said it was also advancing towards Bor, the capital of Jonglei state.

Bentiu and Bor are the two key centres held by the rebels.

The conflict erupted after President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup – a charge he strongly denied.

Mr Machar is backed by army deserters, believed to number at least 10,000, and militias from his Nuer ethnic group.

Mr Kiir comes from South Sudan’s largest ethnic group, the Dinka