Uganda sends Battle Group 48 of UPDF to Somalia

Kampala: The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has sent the 48th Battle Group to Somalia, which will be part of the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

The deployment of these troops comes after they completed training in preparation for the mission, which took place at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO-TC), located in Singo, Nakaseke district in Uganda.

The Deputy Commander of the Uganda Land Forces, Brigadier General Felix Busizoori, urged the troops to maintain cooperation, discipline, and effort, to ensure the success of the mission they will undertake in Somalia.

“When you work as a team, you will succeed as a team, and you will all return together,” he said.

Brigadier General Busizoori also warned the troops against misconduct, emphasizing that they should uphold the highest standards of integrity and honor, reminding them that their behavior reflects the reputation of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).

“Act as if everyone is watching you,” he told the troops.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the local community, noting that this has played a significant role in the successes that UPDF troops have achieved in previous operations.

On the other hand, he warned the troops against inappropriate use of social media, stating that this could undermine the preparedness of the mission and put the troops at security risks. He reminded them that unauthorized use of social media is a punishable offense, as stipulated in the military regulations.

The Commander of the IPSO-TC, Colonel Moses Nabaasa, also urged the troops to uphold ethics and fully understand the values and responsibilities associated with military service.

Referring to the guidelines provided by the Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF and President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Colonel Nabaasa emphasized the importance of ethics, patriotism, and understanding the purpose of military service.

He stated that the training is designed with the primary objective of preparing the troops for participation in the African Union mission in support of peace.

Colonel Nabaasa encouraged the troops to demonstrate cooperation, patriotism, and the principle of African unity (Pan-Africanism) while engaged in the mission in Somalia.