The Chief Defence Forces(CDF), Gen David Muhoozi has warned soldiers against indiscipline while on missions abroad.
Gen.Muhoozi made the remarks while flagging off fighters under battle group XXIII at the Peace Support Operation Training Centre in Singo that is soon being deployed in Somalia.
“Avoid scenarios of indiscipline like theft of fuel and other army logistics, ” the CDF said.
Over 20 UPDF officers including Brig. Michael Ondoga, the former UPDF contingent commander in Somalia were a few years ago charged for alleged sale of food and fuel to Somalis while on the foreign mission.
Some of them including Brig Ondoga were later acquitted of the charges by the army court.
Speaking to the soldiers going for AMISOM, Gen.Muhoozi asked them to always observe the discipline and ideology of the UPDF so as to always carry the Ugandan flag high while on foreign land.
“We want you to obey instructions of your commanders to avoid senseless deaths as it has happened before”, he urged.
Gen Muhoozi called upon the UPDF officers and men to work as a team while on mission adding that everybody is equally important while on official duties.
He also implored them to be strong as UPDF is already known as a strong force and a war against the same cannot easily be started and sustained.
The function was also attended by the Commander Land Forces , Maj Gen Peter Elwelu.
The battle group is being commanded by Col Eriazile Zake Okolong who will be deputized by Lt Col Robert Kakande and the group is expected to take off by 1st December, 2017.
The UPDF is the biggest contributing army for the African Mission in Somalia(AMISOM) having contributed at least 22 battle groups.
This year the Ugandan army marks ten years since the first group arrived on Somali and has been key in forcing the Al Shabaab insurgents out of most of the areas they once controlled including the capital, Mogadishu.
UPDF has also helped maintain the Somali government in power as well as protecting key government installations including the Mogadishu airport and the parliament from the insurgents affiliated to Al Qaeda.
Other countries that have contributed troops under AMISOM include Kenya, Ethiopia and Burundi among others.
