UPDF flags off Battle Group 48 for Somalia mission
The Deputy Commander, Land Force, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, urged the troops to maintain teamwork, discipline and commitment to ensure successful operations in the mission area.
The Deputy Commander Land Force, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, leads troops in singing patriotic songs ahead of their flag-off ceremony. (Courtesy)
________________ he Deputy Commander Land Force, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, addresses troops during the event.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has flagged off Battle Group 48 (BG XLVIII) for deployment under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) following the completion of pre-deployment training at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO-TC) in Singo, Nakaseke District.
Senior and junior officers attended the flag-off ceremony held on Friday, October 30, 2026. Uganda is the largest troop contributor to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The Deputy Commander, Land Force, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, urged the troops to maintain teamwork, discipline and commitment to ensure successful operations in the mission area.
The Deputy Commander Land Force, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, flags off UPDF Battle Group 48 for deployment.
The Battle Group Commander, Col Michael Opio Ochuka, receives the instruments of power during the handover ceremony.
He also cautioned the contingent against misconduct and urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, reminding them that their conduct would reflect on the UPDF.
A release from the ministry of Defence and veterans' Affairs states that Busizoori also emphasised the importance of maintaining positive relations with local communities, noting that this had contributed to the success of previous UPDF missions. Relatedly, he warned against the misuse of social media, noting that it could compromise operational readiness and expose troops to security risks. He reminded them that unauthorised use of social media was a punishable offence in the Army.
The Commandant of IPSO-TC, Col Moses Nabaasa, urged the troops to uphold discipline and understand the values and responsibilities associated with military service.
The Commandant of IPSO-TC, Col Moses Nabaasa, addresses troops during the event.
He said the training had been conducted under the primary mission statement, “To Prepare this Contingent for a Pan-African Peace Support Mission.”
Col Nabaasa urged the troops to demonstrate teamwork, patriotism and Pan-Africanism throughout their deployment.
“Go for the mission as a Battle Group. You have trained as a team. Fight and win as a team, conduct yourselves with discipline and uphold the values of the UPDF at all times,” he said.
The Battle Group Commander, Col Michael Opio Ochuka, commended the Strategic Leadership of the UPDF for trusting him with the Leadership of Battle Group 48 (XLVIII ) in the Mission area in Somalia.