Curfew announced in areas where UPDF base was attacked in Somalia

Curfew has been announced in areas where a UPDF (Uganda People's Defense Force) base was attacked in Somalia.

The UPDF commander of the Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, and the Somali National Army (SNA) CDF, Gen Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, have agreed to implement the curfew on the highway from Afgoye to Barawe in the Lower Shabelle region.

The decision to impose the curfew was made in response to a recent attack on a UPDF forward operating base in Buulo Mareer, located approximately 120km southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region.

The attack involved the use of Vehicle Borne Improvised Devices (VBIDs) by the militant group Al-Shabaab. By restricting vehicle and motorcycle movement at night, the aim is to prevent Al-Shabaab from using such vehicles laden with explosives to carry out complex attacks.

During a meeting at the Goloweyn Forward Operating Base, Lt Gen Muhanga and Gen Odowaa instructed commanders on the ground to collaborate with local leaders to enforce the ban on night time movement of vehicles and motorcycles.

The findings of Lt Gen Muhanga's investigation into the attack will be submitted to the President of Uganda for further decision-making.