The new AMISOM Force Commander, Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigyire has Wednesday officially taken over office from the outgoing force commander, Lt Gen Osman Noor Soubagleh.
The ceremony was presided over by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission [SRCC] and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira.
‘’The main objective is to defeat Al-Shabaab terrorists and stabilize Somalia and the region at large as the effects of instability have always spilled over to other countries in the region,” said Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigyire in his acceptance remarks
“Some of the incidents include the Bombing of Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village (a restaurant) in Kampala, Garrisa and supermarkets in Kenya,” the new commander said.
Owoyesigire said called for team work and openness and good working relationships right from the first commander corporal up to Generals.
“I am approachable and will entertain only open methods of work,” he said.
He warned that rumor mongering has no space during his tenure and that it will be exposed.
The General thanked the outgoing and entire headquarter team for the job well done.
The outgoing force commander, Lt Gen Osman Noor Soubagleh said he was happy to hand over having served in that capacity for the last 18 months. He told the incoming commander that his success as force commander will be the success of AMISOM and African Union in restoring peace in the horn of Africa Nation.
Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, the Special representative of the chairperson of African Union commission (SRCC) and Head Amisom said the commission was ready to support the new force commander and that he should work with determination to achieve the expected results and therefore take the lead and be in charge.
Gen Owoyesigyire has held different appointments and earned experience of over 40 years in active service.
These include; Infantry company commander (1985 – 1988), commander artillery division (2003 – 2005), commander Air Force (2005 – 2012), Member of Parliament for UPDF (2011 – 2016) and Chairman National Defence College Establishment Steering Committee since 2012.
Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is an active regional peace keeping mission operated by the African Union with approval of the United Nations. Since its inception in Feb 2007, Uganda was the first country to send in troops followed by Burundi and other countries came in later.
Today, the strong body boasts of a force of 22,000 from all the troop contributing countries including Uganda Burundi Kenya Djibouti and Ethiopia which has seriously degraded Al-Shabaab terrorists.
The position of force commander has been rotational since the coming in of other countries.
The ceremony was attended by the minister of state for Defence Somali government and all Force Headquarters staff .
AMISOM force commanders since 2007;
Maj Gen Levi Karuhanga 2007-2008 (Uganda)
Maj Gen Francis Okello 2008-2009 (Uganda)
Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha 2009-2011 (Uganda)
Maj Gen Fred Mugisha 2011-2012 (Uganda)
Lt Gen Andrew Gutti 2012-2013 (Uganda)
Lt Gen Silas Ntingurirwa 2013-2014 (Burundi)
Lt Gen Jonathan Rono 2015-2016 (Kenya)
Lt Gen Osman Noor 2016-2018 (Djibouti)
Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire 2018- date (Uganda)
