The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is opposed to the on-going downsizing of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in the war-torn Eastern African country and the eventual handover of the security mantle to the SNA.
The United Nations directed AMISOM to start gradual reduction of its forces and already 1,000 has since been sent back home.
According to Brigadier Gen Paul Lokech of UPDF-AMISOM Sector 1, the move could have consequential negative impact on efforts to stabilize Somalia.
“From a military perspective, I would say it is not yet time for us to draw down. We need time to prepare the local forces for a transition,” he stressed.
Plans are ongoing to cut the same number in October this year, from the current 21,000 peace-keeping fighters in the area. UN wants AMISOM to eventually handover to the Somali National Army (SNA) by 2021.
Brigadier Lokech made the remarks while interacting with a team of Ugandan journalists who were in Somalia for a four-day visit.
During the press briefing at his base in Mogadishu, Brigadier Lokech explained AMISOM has trained a number of SNA soldiers as they prepare them to takeover but the process has to be gradual.
