By Pascal Kwesiga and Faith Amongin
Uganda has expressed dissatisfaction about the delay in compensating the families of soldiers killed and military assets lost under the UN funded African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
According to the defense minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, Uganda has not yet been compensated for the lives of soldiers killed and military hardware lost in the mission area including a helicopter that crashed in Mt. Kenya in 2012 en route to Somalia, killing seven soldiers on board.
“We have lost many troops as the troop contributing countries including the eight soldiers who were killed in Mogadishu on Christmas Day. We have lost equipment including our helicopter that crashed in Kenya, but compensation had been made,” he said.
(L-R) Brig. Gebremedhin Fakadu Hailu, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Lydia Wanyoto, Uganda's Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and Somalia's National Security Advisor Sheikh Abdurahman Isse during the 2015 Retreat of the African Union Mission In Somalia at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Jan 07, 2015. PHOTO/Abou Kisige
Uganda was the first country to deploy peace keepers in Somalia in 2007 under AMISOM which was formed in 2006.
Other African countries have also contributed troops to the mission to protect the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia against attacks from Alshabab terrorists as the country struggles to deal with the damage caused by militant groups that have been battling for power since 1991.
Delegates attending the 2015 Retreat of the African Union Mission In Somalia at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Jan 07, 2015. PHOTO/Abou Kisige
The minister was opening the 2015 AMISOM retreat attended by AU officials, army chiefs from countries that have troops and police in Somalia, ambassadors and representatives from countries supporting the peace keeping mission at Sheraton hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.
The AU officials attending a two-day retreat could not comment on the compensation because they are not authorized to speak on behalf of union. The retreat is being held behind closed doors.
