UPDF dismiss al shabaab claims on dead soldiers

Kampala

The army yesterday dismissed claims by the Somali insurgents that they killed 20 UPDF soldiers and three American snipers in Somalia on Monday.

Al Shabaab spokesperson, Sheikh Ali Mohamoud, said yesterday that they had carried out an attack inside African Union soldiers’ base in Wardhiigley District of Mogadishu, killing three American trainers, 20 UPDF soldiers, including eight commanders. But the UPDF Spokesperson, Lt. Col Felix Kulayigye said Uganda lost two soldiers not 20 in the fighting that broke out in Mogadishu on Monday.

“We lost two soldiers and that was explained by Amisom. We are expecting their bodies today,” he said,adding “It’s a lie that there are American soldiers training UPDF soldiers in Somalia.” Two suicide bombers dressed in Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) uniform were also killed in the Monday attack as they attempted to infiltrate Amisom frontline.

Meanwhile, col. Michael Beary from Ireland has been appointed the new commander of the European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM) based in Bihanga, Ibanda District.

European Union has been facilitating the military training to Somali soldiers in Bihanga for the last three years. At least 2,500 Somalis have been trained and deployed in Somalia to defend the transitional federal government of President Sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed.

The outgoing mission commander Col. Ricardo Gonzalez Elul of Spain, who has been in Uganda for the last one year, is going to Columbia as European defence and military attaché.