UPDF Return From Somalia Mission

THE first contingent of 80 visibly excited soldiers returning from Somalia jetted into the newly refurbished Old Entebbe Airport yesterday. A downpour blessed their safe return from war-torn Mogadishu, one of the most dangerous cities in the world, as it washed away the Somali dust from their boots.

The soldiers, clad in brown and green combat fatigues, armed with assault rifles, sleeping bags and other equipment, proudly filed out of the Antonov plane in a single line.

They are to be replaced by another 1,600 Ugandan soldiers under the African Union Mission in Somalia, or AMISOM, as the African Union chairman yesterday recommended the peacekeeping mission to be extended for another six months.

In a moving ceremony, the 80 marched into parade formation as the army brass played martial music.

The contingent's commander, Major Kantinti, raised a large Ugandan flag, saluted and handed it over to the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Ivan Koreta, who in turn handed it over to defence minister Crispus Kiyonga. After the band played the national anthem, Kiyonga passed on the flag to the new commander, clad in bullet-proof vest and crash helmet, Col. Godfrey Golooba.

"You are heroes. You have done Uganda very proud. The international community, especially Queen Elizabeth, expressed happiness with your work in Mogadishu", Kiyonga told the incoming group.

"As we sacrificed for the stabilisation of Somalia and the liberation of our continent, we lost five troops and eight were injured."

He later told journalists in the airport lounge that the Ugandans were deployed to guard the Somali transitional government and government institutions, facilitate reconciliation and help Somalis build their own institutions, especially security.

"AMISOM continues. It is pleasing to note that at this time we are being joined by other troops from Burundi. Let me thank our partners like Algeria, Kenya, the UK and France who have been assisting us in this cause," he stressed.

Several soldiers recalled that the worst time of their deployment in Somalia was the day when they were hit by an explosion that left five of their colleagues dead and eight injured.

"It was a great time serving Uganda abroad," said Maj. Kantinti, tears willing in his eyes. "I am very delighted to be home. I am looking forward to seeing my family again. I am very grateful to my bosses for including me on this contingent. The worst time was when we lost our comrades."

Lt. Jamada Mawejje recalled: "It was a very nice feeling being deployed in Somalia to help our brothers and sisters there stabilise their country. It was bad for us to lose our comrades. But as a peace keeper, I know that some people must die for others to live."

Cpl Benson Kamukama added that the ordinary Somalis were very nice to them. "They received us well. Working far away from home, the extremely hot climate and the different culture were our greatest challenges."

As the AU Commission's chairman, Alpha Oumar Konare, asked for an extension of the force, he criticised member states for failing to honour pledges for troops.

Only troops from Uganda and Burundi are in Mogadishu, where Islamist insurgents are fighting the interim-government and its Ethiopian allies.

The AU planned a peacekeeping force of 8,000, but has had difficulty getting African nations to deploy soldiers.

"To date, the pledges made by member states to contribute troops for AMISOM represent only a little over half of the authorised strength, depriving AMISOM to live up to its responsibilities towards Somalia and its people," said Konare.

Burundi yesterday announced it was deploying a contingent of 220 to boost another 192 troops already in Mogadishu.

"More than 400 troops have been deployed now, we hope to complete a deployment of one battalion of 850 men by next week," said Burundian army spokesman Adolphe Manirakiza.

Konare also accused the international community of failing to support the force financially and asked the United Nations to authorise its own force to replace AMISOM. He asked Somali's transitional government, led by President Abdullahi Yusuf, to adopt an inclusive approach that would appeal to Somalis that reject violence.

More than 6.500 civilians were killed and 600,000 people have fled their homes since Yusuf's government, with the aid of Ethiopian troops, unseated an Islamist movement in December 2006.