Burundi, Nigeria to deploy in Somalia
May 22, 2007
TROOPS from Burundi and Nigeria will soon join the UPDF on a peace-keeping mission in Somalia, MPs heard yesterday. Without stating figures, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, told the parliamentary committee on defence that Burundi would deploy in a few weeks’ time. <br>
By Joyce Namutebi
TROOPS from Burundi and Nigeria will soon join the UPDF on a peace-keeping mission in Somalia, MPs heard yesterday. Without stating figures, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, told the parliamentary committee on defence that Burundi would deploy in a few weeks’ time.
He added that Nigeria was preparing a battalion for the war-torn Somalia.
“It is a question of when (to deploy).â€
Nyakairima explained that Ethiopian forces would stay in Somalia until other countries deploy.
In March, Uganda deployed 1,500 soldiers in Somalia under the auspices of the African Union to protect the Transitional Federal Government and provide humanitarian assistance.
However, Nyakairima, who was appearing before the committee with the Minister of Defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, to brief members about what was going on in Somalia, noted that they did not act on the latter because they do not have enough forces.
He assured Ugandans about the welfare of Uganda’s troops. “They have what it takes to defend themselves.â€
Nyakairima noted that they get their monthly pay from the Government and the African Union would soon pay them. “They also get adequate food, water and have a field hospital.â€
According to Nyakairima, preparations were going on for the national reconciliatory workshop to be held in June.
He dismissed claims that Ugandan troops in Somalia would not have been attacked if the Somali President had not visited Uganda.
He cited earlier instances where the UPDF was attacked before the Somali head’s visit. Nyakairima said the two people who attacked them were arrested.
The MPs urged other countries, which had pledged to send troops to Somalia and those which had promised to fund them, to honour their pledges. Meanwhile, Alfred Wasike writes that the UPDF soldiers, who were wounded while on an international peace-keeping mission in Somalia, are making good progress except one lieutenant who still had a shrapnel lodged in his neck.
“They got injuries mainly in their heads. Their eyes and ears were affected. Only one underwent an operation, but they are all in a satisfactory condition,†the army spokesman, Maj. Felix Kulayigye, said without revealing the identity of the operated soldier.
While on patrol last week, Fred Ssentogo, Boaz Kasswala, Peter Mucunguzi, Simon Tumusime, Sulait Labu and Odong Okoth serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia, were wounded in a bomb blast in Somali capital Mogadishu last week.
Aronda and his Kenyan counterpart, Gen. Jeremiah Kianga, visited them at a Nairobi hospital on Monday.
“Aronda expressed appreciation to the doctors for the wonderful job they are doing and said their condition was satisfactory. He also thanked the African Union for looking after these comrades,†Kulayigye said.
Additional reporting
by Apollo Mubiru
TROOPS from Burundi and Nigeria will soon join the UPDF on a peace-keeping mission in Somalia, MPs heard yesterday. Without stating figures, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, told the parliamentary committee on defence that Burundi would deploy in a few weeks’ time.
He added that Nigeria was preparing a battalion for the war-torn Somalia.
“It is a question of when (to deploy).â€
Nyakairima explained that Ethiopian forces would stay in Somalia until other countries deploy.
In March, Uganda deployed 1,500 soldiers in Somalia under the auspices of the African Union to protect the Transitional Federal Government and provide humanitarian assistance.
However, Nyakairima, who was appearing before the committee with the Minister of Defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, to brief members about what was going on in Somalia, noted that they did not act on the latter because they do not have enough forces.
He assured Ugandans about the welfare of Uganda’s troops. “They have what it takes to defend themselves.â€
Nyakairima noted that they get their monthly pay from the Government and the African Union would soon pay them. “They also get adequate food, water and have a field hospital.â€
According to Nyakairima, preparations were going on for the national reconciliatory workshop to be held in June.
He dismissed claims that Ugandan troops in Somalia would not have been attacked if the Somali President had not visited Uganda.
He cited earlier instances where the UPDF was attacked before the Somali head’s visit. Nyakairima said the two people who attacked them were arrested.
The MPs urged other countries, which had pledged to send troops to Somalia and those which had promised to fund them, to honour their pledges. Meanwhile, Alfred Wasike writes that the UPDF soldiers, who were wounded while on an international peace-keeping mission in Somalia, are making good progress except one lieutenant who still had a shrapnel lodged in his neck.
“They got injuries mainly in their heads. Their eyes and ears were affected. Only one underwent an operation, but they are all in a satisfactory condition,†the army spokesman, Maj. Felix Kulayigye, said without revealing the identity of the operated soldier.
While on patrol last week, Fred Ssentogo, Boaz Kasswala, Peter Mucunguzi, Simon Tumusime, Sulait Labu and Odong Okoth serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia, were wounded in a bomb blast in Somali capital Mogadishu last week.
Aronda and his Kenyan counterpart, Gen. Jeremiah Kianga, visited them at a Nairobi hospital on Monday.
“Aronda expressed appreciation to the doctors for the wonderful job they are doing and said their condition was satisfactory. He also thanked the African Union for looking after these comrades,†Kulayigye said.
Additional reporting
by Apollo Mubiru