The contingent commander of the UPDF serving in Somalia under the AMISOM, Brig. Gen. Michael Kabango has visited troops in a bid to check their operational readiness.
Brig.Kabango early this week visited UPDF's Forward Operating Bases in Barawe and Maryan Gubay as part of a familiarization tour of all AMISOM Bases in Sector I.
He encouraged the troops to work closely with host communities in their areas of operation for the success of the mission in Somalia.
Brig.Kabango in December replaced Brig.Paul Lokech who had completed his second tour of duty in Somalia.
The Ugandan troops are deployed in Sector One in Benadir,(has 16 districts) and Lower Shabelle regions and are responsible for having pushed Al Shabaab militants for over 200km away from Mogadishu city.
UPDF is also responsible for guarding the Somali parliament, Mogadishu international airport, UN offices and other key government installations in Somalia.
Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia in 2007 and is currently the largest troop contributor of the 22,000 strong AMISOM force, contributing roughly 80 percent of the number.
