UPDF in Somalia |Uganda Peoples Defence Force Somalia

The troop of over 1,800 soldiers was received by the Commander of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Katumba Wamala at Singo Urban Military Training school

The Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala inspecting the Guild of Honor at the function to welcome back battle group 15 from Somalia at the Uganda Urban Warfare Training School. Photos by Tony Rujuta

The Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) battle group 15 which was deployed in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia to keep peace against Al-Shabaab militants have returned home.

The troop of over 1,800 soldiers was received by the Commander of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Katumba Wamala at Singo Urban Military Training school over the weekend.

In his remarks Katumba expressed concern that the troops have not received their monthly allowances in a space of seven months.

AMISOM soldiers are entitled to a $1028 (about UGX 3.3m) monthly pay from the African Union, subject to $200 deduction to support the cost of administration.

Katumba said that delaying soldiers salaries affects their morale and undermines the essence of the mission which puts civilians lives at stake.

Katumba also said that, “the budget proposal for 2016/17 doesn’t indicate that the UPDF salaries will be increased as earlier requested but the soldiers feel cheated because other civil servants like teachers have had increments, so we are engaging the ministry of finance and public service so that we can have at least a 15% top up.”

In 2013 government increased UPDF salaries by 4% with the least paid solider earning UGX 310, 000 up from UGX 290,000 while the top mot paid officials got an increment of UGX 1,600,000 from UGX 1,540,000.
On his part, the commandant of battle group 15, Col. Silvio Aguma attributed their success to strict discipline and paying attention to instructions acquired during the training.

“We appreciate the British, Qatar and French training teams for skillfully preparing us so well. When we reached Mogadishu, we took the modules for granted but decided to observe the guidelines and as a result, we realized that what they had equipped us with was very necessary in defeating the terrorists. Whenever we set foot in defense against the Al-Shabaab, they had to retreat because we were lethal and well prepared,” Aguma said.

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