The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas- Greenfield has applauded the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF’s) efforts in Somalia.
Ambassador Thomas- Greenfield extended USA’s appreciation to Uganda and her Sector 1 UPDF-ATMIS Contingent in Somalia for supporting Somali Security Forces beyond its own mandate, and for evacuating casualties and the dead from the battlefield and especially in the hard -to-reach areas.
She made the remarks at the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS’) working lunch held in her honor at the USA Embassy in Mogadishu, where she was accompanied by the United States Ambassador to Somalia; H.E Larry Andre as well the Technical Team from the United States Mission in New York.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to Somalia, Ambassador Thomas Kipkosgei Chepkuto of the Republic of Kenya to Somalia, Brig, Gen. Peter Omola; Ag. ATMIS Force Commander and UPDF Contingent Commander in Somalia and Mr. Robert Mugimba; Charge D’ Affaires, at the Uganda Embassy in Somalia.
The Ugandan Embassy in Mogadishu said in a statement on Wednesday that the meeting discussed various issues, including; Somali Security Forces/Somali National Army (SSF/SNA) Force generation, Concept of Operations for the ATMIS drawdown Plan, Support to SSF/SNA, Financing of the ATMIS and its operations among others.
“On her part, Uganda commended the United States for being a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and for supporting the ATMIS Mission and in particular Uganda Peoples Defence force in Sector 1 that secures the whole of Mogadishu and Banadir region in Somalia,” the Embassy said.
“Uganda further reiterated her commitment to implementing the drawdown plan of ATMIS. Uganda continues to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) including protection of key Government installations, evacuation of casualties, and the dead from the battlefields in hard-to-reach areas as well as medical support to the wounded. UPDF troops also escort the humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced Camps,” it added.
Ugandan forces have operated in Somalia for more than 10 years.
Ugandan troops are part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), whose aim is to support the central government and stop Al Shabab – the al-Qaeda-linked terror group’s efforts to topple the government.
The UPDF has registered enormous achievements in the fight terror in Somalia.
In 2021, UPDF raided al-Shabab hideouts in the villages of Sigaale, Adimole and Kayitoy, 100km (62 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu, and killed 189 al-Shabab fighters in an attack on one of their camps.