Hiiraan Online

The reservists will be deployed to reinforce the two Ugandan battle groups as they prepare to launch an offensive against al-Shabaab outside Mogadishu, the Somalia capital city, military sources said.

The Ugandan contingent commander in Somalia, Brig. Paul Lokech, was also quoted by the UPDF Magazine, Tarehe Sita, in an interview recently that part of the reserve force would soon land in Mogadishu.
“Fighting this type of warfare needs more boots on ground. Part of our reservists are going to come here to augment our strength as we roll out to the country side,” he said.

The expected deployment is in fulfillment of the UN resolution passed last month to increase the African Union forces in Somalia from 12,000 to 17,731.

However, some of the reservists are complaining that they were unfairly left out during the vetting process.
“We were called to assemble in different divisions before we were transported to Kakiri. After passing the tests, we were taken to Singo for training but after two months, some of us were told to go back home under unclear circumstances,” Cpl. Hanington Mugwanya, said yesterday.

Cpl. Mugwanya said at least 500 reservists were given Shs10,000 and told to go home after two months training in Singo.

But the army spokesperson, Col. Felix Kulayigye, said there was no anomalies in the exercise. “When we invite you for re-engagement and you don’t pass the tests, what do you expect us do?” he asked.