UPDF investigates Christmas attack on Amisom
The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda (addressing the press), said they are investigating how al-shabaab infiltrated the heavily fortified camp on Christmas Day under Ugandan army control. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
What you need to know:
The probe, according to military sources, would focus on whether there was laxity by Ugandan soldiers or collusion from Somalis working inside the camp, who could have aided the attackers to enter the AU camp.
Kampala- The Ugandan People’s Defence Forces has launched an investigation into an al-shabaab deadly attack on an African Union base in Somalia that left three Ugandan soldiers dead, including a colonel.
The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said they are investigating how al-shabaab infiltrated the heavily fortified camp on Christmas Day under Ugandan army control.
“There is an inquiry that has been put in place to find out how that (attack) happened,” he said.
The probe, according to military sources, would focus on whether there was laxity by Ugandan soldiers or collusion from Somalis working inside the camp, who could have aided the attackers to enter the AU camp.
“I would be speculating to tell you how the attack was carried out. Let’s wait for investigations to conclude,” he said yesterday when asked what the inquiry will focus on. Lt Col Chris Kaija, who was a doctor working with Amisom, is the second highest ranking Ugandan army officer to be killed in Somalia since UPDF deployed there in 2007 under the hospice of African Union.
In 2010, Lt Col Patrick Tibihwa was killed in the fierce battle as Ugandan troops fought to capture offices of former Interior Ministry, which was the headquarters of foreign fighters in al shabaab.
Col Ankunda said bodies of the three dead Ugandans were taken to their ancestral homes yesterday.
