Colonel Bony Bamwiseki, Uganda’s battle group 22 commander of the African Union Mission (AMISOM) forces in Somalia has urged Somalis to be vigilant as Al Shabaab is likely to try to stage attacks ahead of the holy month of Ramathan.
Col Bamwiseki was speaking with local chiefs at Ceeljaale and Marka at the AMISOM base. The AMISOM base in Ceeljaale is 120 kilometers away from the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The local chiefs from Ceeljaale, Shalambooti, and Marka expressed gratitude for the Amisom gestures which had ensured a return to peace, increase in trade and reopening of schools. Ceeljaale has been nicknamed, “the second Kampala” because of the hospitable presence of the Ugandan contingent.
The warning on Al Shabaab attacks comes barely two months after the terror group attacked an AMISOM camp base at Quoryole, Bulomareer and Golwein in Lower Shabelle region in Somalia. At least six Uganda People’s Defence soldiers were killed in the attack.
Uganda first deployed in Somalia under AMISOM peacekeeping efforts in March 2007.
