Uganda Land Forces Commander Sent to Somalia to Investigate Attack on UPDF Base

The leadership of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has dispatched Land Forces Commander, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, to Somalia to investigate the attack on a UPDF base by Al-Shabaab insurgents.

Defence Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said the incident happened at 0500hrs on 26^th May 2023.

According to Kulayigye, UPDF forces deployed under African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) were attacked by Al-Shabaab in Buulu Mareer about 120km south-west of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region.  

“UPDF condemns the attack on her gallant soldiers by al-Shabaab terrorists. Nonetheless, this will not deter our commitment to ATMIS’s mandate of ensuring African peace and stability,” said Kulayigye on Saturday.

He said a team of UPDF under the leadership of the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, has been dispatched to Somalia to ascertain the circumstances under which the attack happened and devise the way forward.

He added: “All official communications regarding this attack and other operations of our forces in Somalia remain ATMIS mandate. The country is asked to remain calm.”