At 1530hrs the long awaited Boeing 37 (B37) Aircraft that was carrying the remains of the slain 12 AMISOM UPDF soldiers touched down at the Entebbe Airbase on Wednesday and family members couldn’t hold back tears as the caskets containing the remains of their loved ones were officially received by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in full military honours.
Present at the ceremony was the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Wilson Mbadi, the UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire, Commander UPDF Land Forces Gen. Peter Elwelu, Commander Airforce Brig. Charles Lutaaya and a host of other UPDF Army Chiefs and soldiers.
Speaking to the media Brig. Karemire indicated that the bodies will be treated and dressed in full ceremonial military uniform at the UPDF Military Hospital in Bombo before they are handed over to the respective families.
He however declined to disclose the names of the deceased stressing that the Chief of personnel and Administration Brig. Gen. George Igumba has to physically meet and console the families of the deceased and thereafter disclose the names.
“We as the UPDF are not intimidated by the attack on our colleagues. Their demise only strengthens our resolve to continue pacifying Somalia as per the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) mandate. We cannot disclose the names of the slain UPDF Soldiers because Chief of personnel and Administration Brig. Gen. George Igumba has to physically meet and console the families of the deceased and thereafter will disclose the names”, Brig. Karemire said.
He also revealed that the board of inquiry has been tasked to investigate the whole attack.
William Omaria, a brother to Faustino Elimu who was among the slain UPDF soldiers said that the future is now is blink for his 11 orphaned children and two wives.
“My brother Faustino Elimu has left behind 11 children and two wives and right now we don’t know where to start from. My brother has been serving in Somalia for seven months but he hadn’t received his salary. We appeal to government for support. We shall lay the late Elimu Faustino to rest in Soroti”, Grief stricken Omaria William disclosed.
The 12 UPDF Soldiers were killed on Sunday Afternoon by the Somali Militant group Al shabaab in an ambush while they were on a patrol in lower Shabelle, Goliyne which is a major supply route between Bula-maler and Barawe 140kms from Capital Mogadishu. According to the deputy UPDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki the last time UPDF troops came under heavy attack was on January 11, 2016 in Janale region and 9 soldiers were killed.
Uganda has a contingent of 670 UPDF troops serving in Somalia. Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia and Djibouti are the other countries contributing to the pacification of Somalia.
