Museveni hails AU forces in Somalia

THE Uganda People’s Defense Forces contingent in Somalia serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has worked well by tackling the wrong elements, President Yoweri Museveni has said. The President made the remarks while meeting the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Field Support, Susana Malcorra on Saturday at State House, Nakasero. Museveni, however, said Somalis need to be trained and well equipped to be able to maintain security in their country. He said Uganda could do more to keep security in Somalia if it is provided with the necessary equipment and funds. Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991, as various militia groups battle for control. Malcorra commended the President for the work done by the UPDF peace team in Somalia. She also lauded the Government for its commitment to maintaining peace in Somalia. “Uganda has set itself as an example of a stabilising base and the United Nations was committed to assisting AMISOM,” she promised. Defence minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and that of communications and ICT, Aggrey Awori, foreign affairs ministry permanent secretary, James Mugume and the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Amelia Kyambadde, attended the meeting. Since the beginning of this year, Uganda has maintained over 2,000 UPDF soldiers in Somalia, under AMISOM. The African Union deployed troops in Somalia following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops that had backed the government forces since 2006. Since then, the AMISOM forces have been battling the hard-line al Shabaab islamist insurgents, who want to impose a government based on the Sharia law