Why Mr. Amadou Kamara, work in Somalia is disappointing

By Dr. Opiyo Oloya (PhD)

Dear Mr. Amadou Kamara, Director, United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), I will not hide my deepest disappointment for not meeting you on Monday in your office in Mogadishu. The appointment was firm for 2:30 p.m.

It was arranged by one of the highest, most respected ranking officials at the Uganda's mission in Somalia. At the gate, Uganda soldiers of the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) were extremely helpful.

They tried hard and sent me to the other gate. At the other gate, also secured by Uganda soldiers, nobody from your office had informed the guards about the meeting. Desperate, a captain of the guard ran to your office to check. He returned empty handed. He reported that your office was shuttered. Disappointed, I left.

There is the saying in Wolof, boroom làmmiñ du réer, someone with a tongue will not get lost. Indeed, someone with a pen will always have an audience. There was a lot to talk about.  Allow me, then, to borrow a few more Wolof proverbs compiled by Dr. Richard Shawyer to communicate the message through the media. I wanted you to know the deep pride I felt visiting Ugandan troops serving with AMISOM in Somalia. It is nine years and half since Uganda landed in the war-torn country. And exactly five years since Uganda and Burundi forces expelled al-Shabaab from Mogadishu.  Yet, every Uganda soldier I met is as committed as the first lot that landed nine years ago to serving the people of Somalia.

I wanted to tell you how refreshing it was to listen to the Uganda Contingent Commander, Brig. Sam Okiding, speaking with optimism and passion about the mission.  He is fully engaged in ensuring that our troops and the people of Somalia are safe and secure against predatory al-Shabaab attacks.

He has brought troops from smaller detachments into a bigger detachment. You can be sure that under his leadership, there will be no repeat of Leego, Janaale and El Adde when al-Shabaab fighters swarmed over the defences of AU forces to wreak havoc.

I wanted to talk about the 402 women soldiers serving with the Ugandan contingent. They are a plucky bunch with can-do attitude. Nothing is impossible for them.  If a man can do it, they work to do it better. Sgt. Maimuna Kahindo, serving UPDF since 1999, drives a big old truck.

Several times a day, even in the middle of the night, she delivers food to troops in various parts of base camp. Her fellow driver Cpl. Patricia Laker, meanwhile, drives a big MaxxForce truck. She does the airport runs to pick up supplies flown in by planes.  She joined the UPDF in 2005 as a sports lady.

Tough like nail, Laker used to be a kick-boxer. Then she became a caterer. She upgraded to driving big trucks.  Both women repair the giant truck tires themselves. "The other day, I was repairing the big tire and men were laughing at me, but I repaired it," Sgt. Kahindo told me.

I also wanted to tell you about my visit Sunday to Arbisca base for UGABAG 18 commanded by Col. Ronald Bigirwa.  An hour drive South West between Mogadishu and Afgooye, along the rutty pot-holed road, I saw signs of progress. Mogadishu is bustling with trade. Shabelle Primary and Secondary School is refurbished. There are many working petrol stations.

Unbelievably, they are not attacked by al-Shabaab, which is a clear testimony of the peace Somalia is starting to enjoy.

At Arbisca, there are more Uganda women soldiers working side by side with their men counterparts. Pvt. Scovia Taibale is an artillery gunner. Pvt. Lucy Kamuli, an artillery technician, assists with prepping the artillery shells.  When called upon for support, these ladies can set off the big gun at a target 15 kilometers away.

Further in the field Pvt. Leni Chebet slips easily into the belly of the huge T-55 tank. She is an ammunition loader. After completing secondary, she ran away from home in Moroto to join the forces.  Asked why, she replied with fierce conviction, "Because I love my country!"

Mr. Kamara, what I really wanted to tell you is that Uganda came to Somalia to bring peace. The troops will never cut and run. That is not our army. I expected, therefore, that the treatment of our troops would follow the Wolof saying, Jaboot day boot ñépp, te du wàcce kenn, the mother of a family carries all the family on her back and does not let any one of them down. Yet, there's an unsettling feeling that Uganda troops are taken for granted, even treated unfairly by United Nations Support Mission.  There are lingering problems.

They are not new. Senior contingent commanders have raised these issues before. So far nobody at the UN Support Office Somalia (UNSOM), or your office is listening to them.  I will only mention a few.  Supplies to our troops in far places like Merka and Baraawe remain tenuous. Our troops traverse dangerous terrains in ramshackle and dilapidated vehicles.

On the way to your office, I saw an APC already eaten away by age and rust and the engine refused to start. Half an hour later the driver was still tinkering under the hood, trying to get it started. I took pictures. The Officer's Mess is a complete mess.  Bullet holes still bear testimonies to the vicious December 2014 Christmas attack by al-Shabaab.

The floor of the structure is so rotten my foot went right through to the hard ground underneath!  The biggest issue, however, is the fuel storage depot in the middle of Uganda's contingent camp. Not too long ago, the UN pushed hard to get the armoury out of the vicinity, citing danger from the big munitions. Yet, despite the deadly nature of flammable fuel, the UN maintains a fuel depot in the midst of our troops.  Do the lives of our troops matter to you or not? Do you care about the safety of Uganda troops?

Finally, I wanted to tell you that the people of Uganda expect a different report when I return at year's end to visit the troops. They will expect to hear that Ugandan troops are being treated in a respectable manner. The fuel depot has been moved elsewhere.  The Officer's Mess repaired. There are new fleet of armoured vehicles for the troops. And much needed supplies are getting to our troops regularly and securely. These changes must happen quickly.  The Wolof, after all, have a saying, Pëndub tànk a gën pënduw taat, dust on the feet is better than dust on the butt.

I trust you understand.

Opiyo.oloya@gmail.com