The Commander In Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has responded on the Friday early morning attack on a UPDF Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Somalia by the Al-Shabaab militants saying it was unfortunate. Museveni has however noted that the UPDF will retaliate.
In a late Saturday evening statement, Museveni said there was panic on the side of the Ugandan soldiers and this could have caused the problems.
“Those defences are quite strong although they are guarded by light weapons. There were two tanks, two 14.5mm anti- air-craft guns and a 107mm Katyusha rocket launcher. Some of the soldiers there did not perform as expected and panicked, which disorganized them and the Al-Shabaab took advantage of that to overran the base and destroy some of the equipment,” Museveni said.
Details
The attack targeted a UPDF FOB in Bulo Mareer, 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of the capital of Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab claimed in a statement that it carried out suicide bomb attacks and killed 137 Ugandan soldiers whereas others were taken as prisoners of war.
However, these claims have not yet been independently verified by anyone.
In the first detailed statement about the incident, the president said there was panic among the soldiers when the attack happened.
“The panic, it seems, was totally unnecessary because, in fact, both the anti-tank ditch and our soldiers had destroyed the three vehicles of explosives outside the FOB. The suicide bombers or whatever, were forced to blow themselves up before they gained entry into the base.”
He explained that Ugandan unmanned aerial vehicles also known as drones were watching the whole scenarios from the sky and were directing fire.
“Many of the soldiers withdrew to the next FOB, nine kilometres away. The terrorists were many, about 800 or so according to the UAVs.”
The president said this was a missed opportunity for the UPDF to annihilate the insurgents but noted that nonetheless, they will regret their actions.
“The operations are continuing and they will regret their actions. Condolences to the country and the families of those who died,” he said.
Just like the earlier statements by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, the president’s statement too was devoid of the number of casualties.
Museveni however, said the Chief of Defence Forces has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the matter and that at a later time will come up with the details of the casualties.
“This unfortunate incident should be used to remind all those concerned, that operations in Somalia and other theatres are combat missions and not welfare missions where you can access UN allowances. It is criminal for anybody involved, to send into such a theatre soldiers who are either not suited for that mission or not properly prepared for it.”
Islamists claim they killed 137 troops
Al-Shabab claimed in a statement that it carried out suicide bomb attacks and killed 137 soldiers.
A Somali military captain told Reuters news agency that the militants attacked two bases, which he said “prompted a fierce battle for hours. All groups, including al-Shabab, suffered heavy casualties.”
Another military commander told Agence France-Presse that the attack began when “a suicide bomber drove a vehicle with explosives targeting the ATMIS base.”
“The terrorists were forced to retreat and flee,” Commander Mohamed Yerow Hassan said, adding that the “situation is back to normal now.”
Local residents said they woke up to the sound of huge explosions and heavy weapons.
“Now we see Al-Shabab in the town. We cannot know how many died. We are not hearing any shots from ATMIS and government now,” local resident Rukia Farah said.