The price of Uganda's dead in Somalia

By Robert Atuhairwe

Yet again Ugandan troops deployed under AMISOM in Somalia have suffered a major blow with a dozen men dead and others injured. The attack that caused the destruction is reported to have happened on Sunday (July 30) in Lower Shabelle region, one of the most active cells of the insurgents whom I choose not to name for free publicity.

Every soldier who loses a life on a mission represents at least a thousand lives of civilians back home saved from encountering a similar fate and this is not restricted to UPDF. I have heard some people dismiss reports of these deaths, claiming, among other absurdities, that the "metallic boxes" contain pieces of cloth or logs of wood and that the funerals are staged to make Ugandans feel pity and donors to increase their benefaction for the peace mission effort. Then there is an MP who "slaughters a chicken for each Uganda soldier killed", apparently in derision of the mission. While opinions are personal to holder, those who suffer personal loss attest to the pain but the good thing is that they are aware of the occupational hazards their folksrisk when enrolling for such missions.

One mayor who lost a son in the same country in 2007 told mourners he was proud because his son had died a noble death and that it would have been shameful if he was killed stealing chicken. These brave soldiers are not losing themselves for Somalia, Uganda or East Africa alone but they carry the flag of the entire civilized world. Therefore, I don't foresee a time when anyone will decline to join the forces or going on a mission just because they may never return alive. Wait and see the dash at the recruitment soon to be rolled out!

While nothing can substitute for life, AMISOM will, as a standard, compensate families of the deceased. I believe they should benefit, additionally, in a way that provides a better price for the life they couldn't save.

While Somalia's run down situation suggests no serious economic business and the story on every one's lips is about war and terror, the contrary is true; the rehabilitation and reconstruction process presents incredible work and business opportunities, in all sectors without exception. And Somalia is a large country (about three times the size of Uganda), most strategically located (at the Horn of Africa) which is a portal hub for trade with the Far East. Though it has large tracts of desert, it has large agricultural regions which produce anything that can be produced in fertile lands like Uganda including bananas and fruits. There is plenty to eat-marine fish that matures and dies of old age-which if processed would stabilize food prices in the region. Just that a tip!

Next of kin of fallen combatants should exploit the bravery of their sons and daughters to contribute to Somalia and benefit from it in their own (civilian) way by investing or seeking opportunities, contracts and jobs in the country. It's not about simply sauntering across its borders or associating with anyone who comes along claiming to have a link but there are formal ways to go about. For instance, there is a delegation of officials, including cultural leaders, who will be in Uganda in October. They will be learning a few things but mostly scouting for partnerships for business by which Ugandans could get themselves acquainted with working in Mogadishu and other safe zones.

Ugandans are popular due to the AMISOM component and it's up to civilians to keep that reputation high by engaging in honest ventures and making a difference in the region. The bilateral relationship is unlikely to wither because of small misfortunes such as unlucky days when insurgents get away with mayhem. Somalia can very easily be part of the East Africa federation with a common market, currency, tax regime and a fulltime standby security scheme taking care of general matters. We have already spent resources and time for us to just walk out without achieving a major objective whichever way.

The Ugandan leadership (and African Union) should also explore the possibility of mediating between the government of Somalia and its opponents as part of a grand plan to end the war through dialogue and integration if internal capacity to meet their security needs is not generated fast enough. It's not possible, advisable or envisaged for the armed assignment to be long term under the current arrangement (peace-keeping) but it can become a permanent subject to how quickly the peoples of the region agree to co-operate (federate). The good thing is that UPDF is not about guns alone like armies of yesteryears but intellect and ideology.