By Mubiru Ivan
Maj Gen Peter Elwelu, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has told army officers that every man on earth has a mission to accomplish.
He made the revelation at a handover function on Thursday where Brig Michael Kabango took over UPDF Sector One Command from Brig Paul Lokech after a one-year African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) tour of duty.
Gen Elwelu reminded soldiers that it’s their pan Africanist duty to support Somalis to achieve peace.
He noted that before 2007 when Somalia turmoil was at its peak, Somalia was regarded as a “hell on earth” and whoever suggested to operate or deploy in Somalia was termed as “dead on arrival”.
Gen Elwelu lauded UPDF for with limited resources and support, to have championed military operations in 2007. He advised the incoming Uganda Contingent Commander (COTINCO) in Somalia to build on the achievements scored by Brig Lokech.
He also commended Brig Lokech for a job well done during his one-year tour as (CONTICO) in Somalia. He added that Somalia mission is important not only to Uganda’s ideology of Pan-Africanism but also to the world at large.
The outgoing Contingent Commander outlined UPDF-AMISOM’s achievements within the year 2018 including reoccupation of Marka port from Al-Shabaab, the handover of the symbolic Mogadishu National stadium to FGS, revamping of Barawe and Ceel-jale ports, joint operations between UPDF-AMISOM and various CIMIC activities to Somali people.
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