The Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF) Commander Land Forces Lt Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, together with Somali National Army (SNA) Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, have jointly agreed to enact a curfew on the highway (main supply route) from Afgoye to Barawe Lower Shebelle region of southwestern Somalia. No more movement of vehicles and motorcycles at night.
The order shall take effect immediately after commanders on the ground harmonize with the local leaders of Marka and Kuutnuwarey districts.
The curfew agreement was proposed on May 29th 2023 at Goloweyn Forward Operation Base (FOB), where the two generals met commanders and troops serving under ATMIS in Sector 1.
The generals agreed that stopping vehicle movement at night would deny Alshabaab’s use of vehicle-borne improvised devices as a weapon of choice to carry out complex attacks.
The generals instructed commanders on the ground to agree with local leaders to put a ban on the movement of vehicles and motor cycles at night. This will deny Alshabaab the use of vehicles laden with bombs to attack our FOBs.
Lt. Gen. Kayanja is in Somalia to establish the root cause of the Alshabaab attack on Baulomareer FOB and eventual overrun on May 26th 2023.
Lt. Gen. Kayanja informed the troops that he was in the mission area to investigate and encourage them to do their due diligence as mandated by the African Union.
“Our findings will be submitted to the Commander in Chief, the President of Uganda, for the way forward,” said Lt. Gen. Kayanja.
Lt. Gen. Muhanga reminded soldiers that the weakened Alshabaab’s use of suicide bombers in vehicles as a weapon of choice is to create shock, confusion, fear and use the opportunity to raid the bases.
He further advised the soldiers to conquer fear, be bold and aggressive.
“It is not that we don’t fear to die, we do. However, a well briefed soldier conquers fear and takes timely, decisive action on the enemy,” Lt Gen. Kayanja said.
The CLF team consisted of Col. Sturt Agaba, the Director Operations Land Forces; Col. Elvis Byamukama, the MovCon Commander; and Lt Col Albert Kashakamba the Director Intelligence Land Forces.