A Ugandan military court sitting in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has this morning begun hearing a case against 17 soldiers serving with the African Union force (Amisom) who were arrested in June following a sting operation.
The Ugandans, including three senior officers, are accused of selling military equipment, fuel and other army paraphernalia.
Seven judges are hearing the case at the Amisom headquarters in Mogadishu.
One soldier has already pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison.
It is the first time a military court connected to the AU mission has sat in Somalia since the troops were deployed nine years ago.
It was decided to do so as an attempt to show Somalia’s citizens that the Amisom force was being held to account.
Uganda is the highest troop contributor to 22,000 strong Amisom force.
SOURCE: BBC Africa, Mogadishu
