UPDF Soldiers In Somalia Panicked After Al-Shabaab Attack - President Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has attributed the casualties the UPDF suffered in Somalia following an Al-Shabaab attack on some soldiers who panicked.
Al-Shabaab attacked the UPDF Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Buulo Mareer, approximately 120 km Southwest of Mogadishu at dawn on 26th May 2023.
President Museveni made his communication in a press statement released on 27th May 2023, a day after the attack.
According to President Yoweri Museveni, some of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in Somalia did not perform as expected and panicked, which disorganized them and the Al-Shabaab took advantage of that situation to overrun the base and destroy some of the equipment, including tanks and other heavy weapons.
President Museveni added that the Chief of Defence Forces has set up a Board of Inquiry (BOI) to investigate the attack and the full facts will come out, including the details of the casualties. It is said that the Al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked UPDF were said to be about 800 according to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)s or drones.
The UPDF has already dispatched a team led by the Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga to begin the preliminary investigations.
Even after this attack, the UPDF and Defence Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye noted that the forces are dedicated to continuing in ensuring African peace and stability.
Uganda's participation in peacekeeping efforts in Somalia through the UPDF began in 2007 as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has now been transformed into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
ATMIS is supposed to begin the drawdown of its troops by June 2023 under the Somali Transition Plan (STP) to gradually hand back security responsibilities to the Somalia National Army, the Regional Forces and security forces.
The regional peacekeeping mission was authorized by the United Nations Security Council and the African Union (AU) to support the Federal Government of Somalia in restoring peace and stability in the country.
Uganda has a history of contributing troops to various peacekeeping missions in Africa, including in countries like Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Liberia.
Uganda's participation in peacekeeping in Somalia has not been without challenges. The UPDF has faced several attacks from Al-Shabaab, resulting in casualties. However, Uganda has remained committed to its role in AMISOM, and its contributions have been recognized and appreciated by the international community.
Gloria Irankunda
