Uganda wants $14m compensation for African Union Somalia mission

The government wants compensation worth $14m from the African Union for the depreciation of its military hardware being used in the peace keeping mission in Somalia.The Minister of Defence, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, told Members of Parliament yesterday that Uganda should be compensated for weapons worn out in the past two years as it executed the African Union mission in Somalia. “We have made calculations of the depreciation and the total comes to around $14 million dollars. We expect this money soon,” he said.Dr Kiyonga, who was appearing before the parliamentary committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, said before UPDF deployed in Somalia, AU agreed to compensate for the devalued weapons used to keep peace in the anarchic state. Uganda deployed 1,500 soldiers in 2007, who were later joined by two Burundian battalions in the lawless state to make a 3,000-strong force.The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, asked MPs to urge the African Union to swiftly pay for the depreciated equipment “Honourable members, if you can, please tell them to quickly work on the reimbursement,” Gen. Aronda said.He said Uganda and Burundi were planning to send more 1,600 troops to fill the security vacuum left by Ethiopian forces in the Somali capital Mogadishu. This means there is still a vacuum of 3,500 troops to reach the targeted 8,000-strong force. “We are sending a third battalion to beef up security. Burundi is preparing to another as we wait for Nigeria which has recommitted itself to send troops,” he said. Gen. Aronda said the Transitional Government in Mogadishu is in talks with the opposition to recruit 10,000 soldiers who will supplement the AU force.
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