By Watchdog reporter
The last troops of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) on Wednesday left the Central African Republic following the announcement and beginning of a phased withdraw of all Ugandan forces on 19th April 2017.
UPDF deployed in 2009 and later in 2012 under a resolution of the African Union which created the AU-led Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the LRA (RCI-LRA).
According to UPDF Deputy spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the final batch of the troops began trekking from their concentration base in Nzara South Sudan three days ago under the overall command of Brigadier General Richard Otto who has been the Ugandan Contingent commander in CAR.
Contingents of the Central African Armed Forces and the UN’s stabilization force, MINUSCA, remain in eastern Central Africa, to take care of the remaining security challenges in the area where UPDF has been active.
“ LRA capacity to cause insecurity to Uganda and the region has been greatly degraded although Uganda will keep vigilant on any new capabilities and security threats that LRA may think of at any given moment,” Lt Col Akiiki stated.
“We commend the work done by our gallant soldiers and commanders to keep Uganda and the region safe of any insecurity. Our troops will be utilized to close any deployment gaps that we may have internally and externally,” he added.
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