Investigations into Al-Shabaab attack on UPDF base in Somalia Underway

Investigations into an attack on a UPDF (Ugandan People's Defense Force) forward operating base in Bulo Marer, Somalia are underway, according to army officials.

 The attack occurred on a Friday morning and targeted the base, resulting in casualties and the destruction of vehicles and equipment.

The extremist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they carried out suicide bomb attacks, killed 137 Ugandan soldiers, and took others as prisoners of war.

However, these claims have not been independently verified, and Al-Shabaab has been known to exaggerate the extent of their operations in the past.

In response to the attack, the UPDF has dispatched a team, led by Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, the commander of the Land Forces, to Somalia to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack - according to the army spokesperson Brig. Felix Kulayigye.

Lieutenant General Muhanga is an experienced officer who has previously served as the commander of Ugandan troops in Somalia, contributing to the fight against Al-Shabaab insurgents.

The UPDF remains committed to its role in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which aims to help bring permanent peace to Somalia by transferring security responsibilities to the country's own army and police by 2024.

Previous incidents of attacks by Al-Shabaab on UPDF bases in Somalia have occurred in 2015 and 2018, resulting in casualties among Ugandan soldiers.

Despite the efforts of ATMIS and other African Union troops, Al-Shabaab continues to carry out attacks on civilian and military targets, particularly in the Lower Shabelle region where the recent attack took place.

ATMIS troops are scheduled to withdraw from Somalia next year.