Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia has praised the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) for maintaining and fostering peace in the Horn of Africa country since 2007.
President Mohamud made the statement on Wednesday 21st December 2022 during The UPDF Commander Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga’s visit to him at Villa Somalia.
“UPDF has footprints in the history of Somalia and will be recorded in the books of history. The impact one has on ground is what makes a difference,” President Mohamud said.
The Somali President further commended the Commander in Chief of the UPDF, President Museveni for the tremendous efforts to demolish Al-Shabaab and applauded him for UPDF’s professionalism, discipline and neutrality exhibited during the 2022 Somali Presidential elections.
“There is hope that we will soon end this situation. You worked under a difficult political situation and created a neutral ground for political transition,” he stated.
Gen Kayanja, who was convoyed by Brig Gen Peter Omola, the new UPDF contingent commander in Somalia under the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Brig Gen Keith Katungi among others congratulated President Mohamud upon his victory in the just concluded elections.
He further expressed Uganda’s interest in working with Somalia to strengthen the two country’s historical relations.
“The government of Uganda and UPDF will always work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) for the mutual benefits of our sister countries and the region,” Gen Kayanja remarked.
The duo observed that a stable Somalia and peaceful region is a shared vision between President Yoweri Museveni and President Mohamud for the social economic transformation of the peoples of the two countries and the continent.
Ugandan troops have been on a peacekeeping mission in Somalia since 2007.Uganda was the first country to deploy troops for peacekeeping in Somalia, paving a way for other counties to join.
