Uganda military official confirmed the death of two UPDF soldiers in Somalia. The two Ugandan soldiers were serving under the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The two were killed when their convoy was ambushed Al-Shabaab in Marka town, Lower Shabelle region of Somalia.
Confirming about the clash, Lt.-Col. Deo Akiiki, Uganda’s deputy military spokesperson said that that Uganda lost two soldiers in when UPDF troops on patrol in Marka were ambushed by the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab still controls some parts of the town which harbors one of the most strategic ports in southern Somalia.
Marka is Somalia’s third-largest port after Mogadishu, situated about 90 kilometers to the north, and Kismayo, which is more than 300 kilometers to the south. Al-Shabaab fights Somali and allied forces in an attempt to take control of Marka and Kismayo which are of great economic value and sources of finance to the combatants.
Uganda, which first sent troops to the country in 2007, is the biggest contributor AMISOM troops with more than 6,000 soldiers in the force.
