Brig. Gen. Lukwago appointed UPDF Somalia commander

Brig Gen Anthony Lukwago is the new commander of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) peace troops in Somalia. He officially took over from Brig. Gen. Peter Gaetano Omola, whose tenure elapsed, at the Basecamp sector one headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia. UPDF is currently serving under the African Transmission Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which replaced the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in December 2021.

Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, the reigning ATMIS Forces Commander has emphasized troop aggressiveness against Al-Shabaab to deny them freedom of action. Brig. Lukwago took over at the time when UPDF had started the gradual withdrawal of more than 6000 soldiers.

Lt. Gen. Okiding explained that the Federal Government of Somalia is capable of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somalia President Hassan Shiekh Mohamed extolled ATMIS and SNA for prioritizing efforts in force generation within the shortest period and applauded his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his foresight in stabilizing Somalia. According to Hassan, if Uganda had not intervened, Somalia would continue experiencing spillovers of insanity.