The President of Somalia; His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud applauded the role Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has played in the efforts towards pacifying Somalia since 2007.
“UPDF has foot prints in the history of Somalia and will be recorded in the books of history. The impact one has on ground is what makes a difference,” H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud remarked.
His Excellency Hassan Sheikh said these words to the Commander of Uganda Land Force, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga who paid him a courtesy call yesterday evening; 21 Dec 2022 at Villa Somalia. Gen Kayanja was accompanied by Brig Gen Peter Omola; the new UPDF contingent commander in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Brig Gen Keith Katungi who has completed his tour of duty as UPDF contingent commander in Somalia.
His Excellency Hassan Sheikh thanked President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda for the support rendered to Somalia in the fight against Al-Shabaab. “There is hope that we will soon finish this situation,” H.E Hassan Sheikh noted.
His Excellency thanked Brig Katungi, and all ATMIS troops in Somalia for their neutrality exhibited during the 2022 Somali Presidential elections. “You worked under difficult political situation and created a neutral ground for political transition,” H.E observed.
H.E wished Brig Katungi all the best in his future assignments and welcomed Brig Omola to Somalia.
On his part, Gen Kayanja congratulated H.E Hassan Sheikh upon his re-election into the office of the Presidency and affirmed to him Uganda and UPDF’s commitment to upholding Uganda-Somalia-historical relations. “The government of Uganda and UPDF will always work shoulder-to shoulder with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) for the mutual benefits of our sister countries and the region,” Gen Kayanja remarked.
The sides observed that a stable Somalia and a peaceful region is a shared vision between President Yoweri Museveni and President Hassan Sheikh for the social economic transformation of the peoples of the two countries and the continent.