Brig Okiring to head UPDF troops in Somalia
BRIGADIER Sam Okiring was on Tuesday unveiled as the new contingent commander of Ugandan peacekeeping troops serving as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Okiring replaces Brigadier Sam Kavuma, who returned from Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu along with troops from Uganda Battle Group (UGABAG 14) after one year tour of duty. They were received the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces in the UPDF, Brigadier Leopold Kyanda at the UPDF Air Force Base in Entebbe.
At the same function, a new Battle group (UGABAG17) was flagged off to Somalia, taking the place of UGABAG14. Uganda was the first country to send peacekeeping troops to Somalia under AMISOM in 2008 and currently maintains the largest force (over 6,000) of all the troop-contributing countries.
