Ugandan president promises more military support to Somalia

Museveni said while the East African region can work toward providing equipment to Somalia, the country should have a plan to build a national army.

News Keydmedia Online
11 October 2022

KAMPALA, Uganda - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has promised to provide more military equipment to Somalia to help fight al-Shabab militants, according to a State House statement issued on Monday.

Museveni said while the East African region can work toward providing equipment to Somalia, the country should have a plan to build a national army.

“The people must build their army to defend themselves,” Museveni said, while meeting visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who was in Uganda to commemorate the country’s 60th anniversary of independence from colonial rule Sunday.

Mohamud thanked Museveni for sending troops to be part of the bigger peacekeeping force currently operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Uganda has more than 6,000 troops serving under ATMIS.

Mohamud said the Somali army has made big strides in promoting security, adding that the community has cooperated with the army in its work.

He was optimistic that within the next six months, his government would have attained total victory over the al-Shabab militants.