President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus that a few days ago the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) managed to successfully recapture the Buulo Mareer Base from the Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.
On May 26, 2023, the Al-Shabaab using over 800 fighters attacked and overran Buulo Mareer Forward Operating Base (FOB), manned by the UPDF.
“Our soldiers demonstrated remarkable resilience and reorganized themselves, resulting in the recapture of the base by Tuesday,” President Museveni made this announcement on Saturday during the ongoing 10-day NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The President further revealed that during the operation, the UPDF discovered the lifeless bodies of fifty-four (54) fallen soldiers, including that of one Commander Nyororo.
“Although unfortunate, this incident serves as a lesson to all. The mistake was made by two commanders, Maj. Oluka and Maj. Obbo, who ordered the soldiers to retreat. They have been apprehended and will face charges in the Court Martial,” President Museveni explained.
In addition, the President highlighted that the terrorists attempted to launch an attack on Baraawe Town but they were repelled by the UPDF and they withdrew.
“They made an ill-fated attempt on Baraawe, but our forces dealt a significant blow, forcing them to flee,” he mentioned.
President Museveni also emphasized that corruption played a major role in the problem, citing the promotion of a soldier responsible for managing an army shop to a commanding position.
“This is a prime example of the corruption we must address. You, the young generation, have a valuable opportunity to learn from the best practices of the National Resistance Army (NRA). We are here to guide you. Many lives were lost, and we have documented our history. If you’re interested, you can understand why Uganda emerged as it did,” advised President Museveni.