Uganda’s MPs linked to the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee have kick-started a five days visit to Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) who are in Somalia in trying to make their constitutional mandate work perfectly well as assigned.
This visit is meant to check the performance of the army in the mission area and the difficulties they are facing.
The Minister of State for Defence who heads Veterans Affairs Hon Oleru Gudu Abason who presided over the delegation while speaking to the UPDF soldiers on Tuesday in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, thanked the President and Commander In Chief (CIC) of the UPDF Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for creating a Pan-Africanism plan aimed at attaining and maintaining peace across Africa.
She additionally appreciated UPDF troops for their support, sacrifice, discipline, commitment and hard work, among the many to be mentioned
“I want to take this opportunity to thank our CIC for his visionary idea to advance the Pan-Africanism plan and also applaud UPDF for your effort, discipline and sacrifice that has ensured the success of the CIC plan to bring peace not only in Uganda but across Africa,” Hon Oleru noted.
She promised UPDF soldiers that their mission allowances will soon be paid. Hon Oleru likewise said that salary increment for all UPDF soldiers is in the process.
The committee Chairperson and likewise Woman Member of Parliament Hon Rose Nyakikongoro applauded troops for their patience and added that the committee’s work is to look into problems of troops, allocate a budget for the Defence Ministry and see that the passed budget is put to good use.
The UPDF Contingent commander in Somalia Brig Gen Keith Katungi warmly welcomed the MPs and promised them of safety.
“As UPDF, security is our business where we invest to harvest peace as profits,” Brig Gen Katungi remarked.
The MPs were likewise escorted by Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, Commanders, Officers and combatants.
