Somali security forces to train in Uganda

UGANDA is to host a programme in which 2,000 Somalia security personnel will be trained by European Union (EU) soldiers. A recent statement disclosed that the imparting of skills to the Somali military police will also benefit the Uganda Police force. The training follows a request by the interim Government in Mogadishu to help it build a 6,000-strong security force. Somalia has been gripped by civil wars and without a stable government since the overthrow of President Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. The spokesperson for the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said EU’s decision, which is expected on Tuesday in Brussels, would launch the official planning for the mission. The decision will be made at a meeting of foreign, defence and development ministers from member countries. “We will be exploring how we can support the transitional government in addition to what we do with piracy on the high seas,” an official, Cristina Gallach, told reporters. Uganda is among the African countries that deployed soldiers in Somalia on a peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the African Union. According to the statement, Uganda will also host the training for about 400 personnel to be posted to the war-torn Afghanistan. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/701760