Josephine Maseruka
During a session yesterday, the MPs on the defence and Internal affairs committee also regretted the delayed payment of allowances of the 1,500 UPDF troops in Somalia.
Beatrice Lagada wondered whether Uganda could recall its force if other countries failed to send troops.
Hussein Kyanjo argued that the 1,500 UPDF force was too small to keep peace in Somalia and said the warring parties could re-group and pose a threat.
Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga said the Government may consider asking the United Nations to take-over the Somalia peace mission if African Union (AU) member states failed to contribute troops.
He noted that the mission's mandate was for six months, of which three had elapsed.
Kiyonga was, however, optimistic that other AU members would send troops arguing that the delay was mainly due to logistics, resources and training of their troops.
He said the AU would soon release funds to pay the troops' allowances of $400 (about sh690,000) per day, but clarified that they were getting their normal monthly pay as UPDF.
Source: New Vision, May 09, 2007