UPDF veterans to participate in Somalia peacekeeping mission

“The UPDF - Reserve Force will conduct an exercise to call up UPDF veterans for a peacekeeping mission in Somalia,” Kulayigye tweeted through the Defence Spokesperson Twitter account.

While talking to this reporter on phone, the deputy UPDF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, confirmed the development saying the exercise will take place for three days that is to say; February 15^th to 18^th.

“The exercise is on. It will take place between February 15th (today) and 18th. We are calling upon all army veterans to participate in the African Union Transmission Mission in Somalia, a peacekeeping mission in Somalia,” he told this reporter.

Akiiki revealed that the army is aiming at bringing together over 4000 army veterans to participate in the peacekeeping mission for an entire year.

“We aim to bring together about 4000 army veterans. They will participate in the peacekeeping mission for a year before they return to Uganda,” he said.

According to its Wikipedia page, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia was formed on 1 April 2022, following the end of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) mandate on 31 March.

The page further reveals that the mission is focused on both military and institutional autonomy of the Somali Government as the African Union pulls out.

The mission's mandate is set to end on 31 December 2024, when Somali Security Forces are expected to fully take over the security responsibilities of the country, guided by the Somalia Transition Plan. The first reduction of troops to ease into the end of the peacekeeping mission will take place in December 2022