Soldier facing trial over Somali lover

By Patrick Jaramogi

A UPDF officer who allegedly fathered a son with a Somali woman is facing trial, the army said yesterday. Joshua Asiza, a Warrant Officer II, is said to have met Nino Omar Ibrahim, 23, while on peace-keeping duty in Somalia.

He was a medical doctor attached to AMISON Hospital in Mogadishu
UPDF spokesman Maj. Paddy Ankunda told The New Vision that Asiza was being tried by the 1st Division Court Martial in Bombo.

“His acts were detrimental to the UPDF rules, standing orders, operations and proceedings of the peace-keeping force. We warned them before they were deployed.”

Ankunda said Asiza was arrested and detained at Bombo army barracks after Somalia lodged a complaint.

“He spent two and a half months in the cell at Bombo barracks before he was granted bail. He is not deployed because his case is yet to be disposed of.”

Ibrahim and her four-month-old boy arrived in Kampala last week claiming that Asiza fathered her son. “He is a kind man. He even sent me $100 (sh165,000) when I gave birth to this baby.”