Soldiers' wives worry about Somalia mission

Feb 28, 2007

THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers are about to go on a United Nations peace-keeping mission in Somalia. <b>Harriette Onyalla</b> sought out the women whose husbands are destined for war-torn Somalia.

THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers are about to go on a United Nations peace-keeping mission in Somalia. Harriette Onyalla sought out the women whose husbands are destined for war-torn Somalia.

Rose Achola, 37, a mother of five travelled from Kasubi in Gulu district to Gadaffi Garrison in Jinja after hearing that her husband, Paul Ocaya, is among the Somali contingent.

“I came to find out about his financial arrangements for the family. I also wanted to know about other issues like welfare if anything happens to him while in Somalia. But he says they have not yet been told how much they will earn and what their families will get in case of their death.

“He says they may be there for a long time and yet we don’t know how their money will be remitted to us. I hope that in two days when I return home, we shall have the answers because we need money for the children’s school fees,” says Achola, who has been married to Ocaya for 19 years.

Achola is not worried about her husband’s going to serve in Somalia or returning with a Somali wife like what happened during the UPDF mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ocaya was among the soldiers who went to DRC, but did not return with a Congolese wife.

Hundreds of women have travelled from all over the country to Gadaffi Garrison to see their husbands who are gearing up for war-torn Somalia.

Some came with their children while others, like Sarah Akello, left their children at home so that they could have ‘quality time’ bidding their husbands farewell.

However, what is probably foremost on their minds is wanting to know how their husbands will support their families during the one-year mission.
Sarah Akello, 19, had travelled from Katakwi in eastern Uganda three days before I met her. Her husband Stephen Okia called her to come and bid him farewell. They have a one-year-old baby.

“It is good that he is going to Somalia; it means his superiors trust his work. Since they have not been briefed about how their families will receive financial assistance in their absence, Stephen has decided to leave his bank card with me. He is not worried that I will misuse the money just as I am not afraid that he will get another wife in Somalia.

“I cannot stay here longer because I have to go back and look after our child. I wanted to have enough time with my husband before he leaves,” she says.

Meanwhile, Suzan Anabo has come to confirm if the rumour that reached Abia village in Amuria district, about her husband going to Somalia is true. The 23-year-old Anabo has been married to Andrew Okello for five years and they have a five-year-old son.

“I came to find out how we are going to cope because we do not have any money. Andrew says they are still waiting for their bosses to tell them about payments. He has told me to wait because they may be paid before they leave,” Anabo says.

Angella Imoni, 21, was summoned by her husband to Jinja. He wanted to give her some money to boost her small business in Katakwi district.

Imoni’s brows crease in worry. “He might give me some money tomorrow, but his parents are also expecting me to take some money for them. However, my husband has not been given money yet, so even if he gives us everything he has, it will still not be enough for us. I hope his parents understand.”

At the barracks, hundreds of soldiers and military policemen are engaged in combat drills.

Back at the freshly-painted black gates leading into the barracks, 10 soldiers stand on guard, their sweaty faces betraying exhaustion.

Unfortunately, the soldiers do not have answers for their wives. They say the army has not briefed them about payment, its remittance and benefits in case of injury or death.

Many of them want their wives to know who to go to in case of death in Somalia. Is it the normal procedure of claiming benefits or are there special arrangements for the peace-keepers?

“We hear rumours that since this is a United Nations peace-keeping mission, we shall earn more than our usual pay. But no one has told us that, or how much we shall earn. We don’t know what to tell our wives,” a soldier says.

However, Capt. Charles Mwiga says: “We have not yet been told about the money and how we shall be paid. But money should not be a big deal as long as you have your country at heart. I was in the bush and we were not being paid anything.”

Maj. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for the Somalia mission, asserted that the soldiers have not yet been told about their earnings, but added that their salaries will be remitted into their bank accounts in Uganda.

“We shall call a parade and give them details of their pay. If all works in our favour, we shall have a get-together function, so that the soldiers’ families can bid them farewell. They will have a chance to tell their wives all these things. Everything is being done in the open,” he says.

Ankunda says the UN will pay for every weapon and vehicle the UPDF is taking to Somalia.

Maj. Jeff Kuppae Mukasa, the second-in-command of the mission, says the UPDF is going to Somalia as a battle group code-named IGASOM and not as a brigade. He says IGASOM will go with all the elements of artillery and air defence.
A range of polished, sophisticated weapons was on display in the armoury.

Ankunda revealed: “We are going under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter which stipulates that if you meet resistance, crush it and then make peace. You just don’t go with small rifles when Somali warlords have mounted machine guns on jeeps.”

And yet anxiety hangs about the soldiers’ wives like shadows. Will the get-together function be forthcoming; will they get final instructions about their families’ welfare before their husbands leave; or will their voices be drowned in the activity milling around this garrison?

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