Castro Posted February 4, 2007 UPDF earn dollars in Somalia Friday, 2nd February, 2007 By Milton Olupot As the first equipment is being ferried to Entebbe Airport for the African Union peace-keeping force in Somalia, the army has released more details about the terms and conditions for the 1,500 Ugandan soldiers who will take part in the mission. “Soldiers who get injured in Somalia will be compensated at a rate of between $100,000 and $150,000 depending on the degree of injuries. In case of death, the family will receive $100,000,” UPDF spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye, told The New Vision yesterday. He added that every soldier on the African peacekeeping mission in Somalia will receive an allowance of $400 on top of their normal salary, while another $100 will go to the Government. “The allowance will cover accommodation and food,” he said. The forces will also be entitled to free medical care. The UPDF asserts it has taken the necessary safety precautions for its soldiers. “The troops will have bullet-proof jackets, helmets and armoured personnel carriers which protect them from shrapnel and gunfire,” Kulayigye explained. “They were extensively trained to respond to suicide attacks, sniper fire and counter-insurgency operations. Moreover, the mandate allows them to defend themselves when attacked. Insuring our soldiers is really like insuring drivers in Kampala’s traffic.” The Ugandan force, which is scheduled to leave in two weeks, will stay in Somalia for at least 12 months, after which the UN is expected to take over, according to the deployment plan. The mission statement of AMISOM, as the operation is dubbed, reads: “To conduct peace support operations in Somalia as soon as possible to stabilise the current situation in the country in order to create conditions for the conduct of humanitarian activities and immediate takeover by the United Nations.” Besides providing assistance to the transitional Somali government, the force is also supposed to curb the trade of illicit arms, disarm marauding militias and help set up a functional justice system. The deployment plan spells out the mission’s tasks as follows: “to prevent the inflow of illegal arms into Somalia, to ensure the disarmament of all armed groups that are not under the control of the federal transitional government, to assist in the development of a justice system and the rule of law.” The mandate also includes to “provide assistance to the transitional government to consolidate its authority over the whole of Somalia, protection and promotion of human rights, provision of a suitable environment for the conduct of humanitarian work and promote understanding of the peace process and the role of the AU mission among the local communities through an effective public information campaign”. The Ugandan mission only awaits approval by Parliament. This week, MPs rejected a bid by the Government to get instant parliamentary approval without the normal three days notice to table a motion. Burundi is the latest country to offer to contribute troops to the peace mission. Foreign Minister Antoinette Batumubwira said yesterday that Burundi could send 1,000 troops. The African Union says it has 4,000 of the 8,000 peacekeepers needed for Somalia but it is not clear if that figure includes the Burundi offer. Many countries are hesitant to send soldiers to what is considered one of the most dangerous places on earth. POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS Nine battalions proposed - 7,600 troops: Uganda: 1,500 troops Nigeria: Troops offered Ghana: Troops offered Burundi: 1,000 troops offered Malawi: Considering Benin: Considering Tanzania: Considering Rwanda: Considering South Africa: Not sending troops New Vision Online Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sharif_seylaci Posted February 4, 2007 Arent we Djboutians sending forces not Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea Posted February 5, 2007 ^Lol..are you from the D,or from the Land. Dang it dude,I thought you were ehlul beyt.lol Anyways,I think the AU forces are so cowardly that the only way to make them fight tough is to promised money for them.At least they would have something to fight for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taliban Posted February 5, 2007 IRAQ: Ugandan Guards in Iraq Face Abuse Sources said two Ugandans slipped into a coma due to brutal assaults at the hands of foreign officers at Alasad Airbase after they queried terms of the contract. by Grace Matsiko, AllAfrica.com May 10th, 2006 Amid allegations that Ugandans working with the United States forces in Iraq are sexually abused and their contracts changed arbitrarily by the recruiting agencies, a compassionate senior US officer has been working hard to restore the morale of 600 or so guards, most of them serving abroad for the first time. Some of the Ugandan recruits at Alasad Airbase, North West of Iraq, one of the biggest US fortresses, were allegedly sodomised by foreign soldiers and admitted at the Gettysburg health facility inside the fortress, sources in Iraq and Uganda told Daily Monitor this week. It is said that some Ugandan women employed there were used as sex objects by members of one of the foreign armies in Iraq. Sources said two Ugandans, Mr Enock Bashaija and Mr Geoffrey Kawuka slipped into a coma due to brutal assaults at the hands of foreign officers at Alasad Airbase after they queried terms of the contract. Had it not been the intervention of Lt. Col (rtd), Fred Lynch, the Commanding Officer of the US army at the airbase and Mr. Paul Hegue, the executive officer of SOC-SMG, a private security management firm that manages the airbase, Ugandans would have gone on strike to protest the beatings of Bashaija and Kawuka, sources said. But the Kampala embassy of the United States, the lead country of the foreign military intervention in Iraq, could not confirm or deny the allegations emerging out of Iraq involving Ugandans. "We cannot comment; only the Defence Department (in Washington) can answer those questions," Ms Alyson Grunder, the US embassy spokesperson said on Tuesday. But documents obtained from sources in Iraq and Kampala said all is not rosy between Ugandans and the private firms contracted by the US government to recruit them. Ugandans are unhappy that after leaving Uganda they are forced to change from one contractor to another, some reported to be middlemen. Ugandans guard US military bases, oil fields, airports, highways, towns, water and electricity installations among others under multinational forces to pacify the volatile Iraq. For this work, they earn US$1000 (about shs1.8m) with US$100 deducted at source as out of pocket allowance, leaving US$900 (about shs 1.6m) which is wired to their accounts back home. On the other side, the other nationals doing similar work get US$4000 (about shs7.2m) with allowances. Col. Lynch after getting reports of sodomy at Alasad, directed one of the US forces medical doctor identified by sources as Dr. Eddie Claig to investigate the matter. But before he could eradicate the abuses, the sympathetic Col. Lynch was removed and posted to Faruja Airbase. Col. Paul Eggie, according to a source, replaced Lynch and is the new commanding officer at the Alasad Base. As a result of grumbling and unrest in camp, authorities have so far deported 15 Ugandans from Camp Victory and Camp Gettysburg, all in Alasad Airbase, accusing them of being the ringleaders of the uneasiness at the base. The list of deportees include Grace Bukenya, Eddie Kapere, John Bosco Byamugsiha, Paul Mugisha Agaba, Derrick Muwonge, Alice Mugabekazi, Bashaija and Kawuka. American guards have in the past engaged in sadistic abuses against Iraqi detainees but these only came to light after their upright compatriots exposed them. Iraqi detainees, coming from traditions of male dominance, would not admit or complain publicly that they were being subjected to massive physical and sexual abuses that sometimes ended in death. But the discontent among Ugandans in Iraq is not only the alleged physical mistreatment but the employment contracts. Whereas in some of the contracts they signed with Dreshak International L. L. C, a United Arab Emirates based company as "Foreign Security Specialists" in subsequent contracts, they were addressed as "Third Country Nationals". Dreshak recruited the Ugandans from Uganda. Mr Mumtaz Muslim, Dreshak International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in undated letter addressed to Ugandans in Iraq directed them to hand over copies of the earlier contacts they signed with him to SOC-SMG for "destruction". "In order to be in compliance with the contract between the US Marine Corps and SOC-SMG, we hereby release you from the contract signed between you and Dreshak international" Mr Mumtaz wrote in the letter seen by Daily Monitor. http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13572 The Ugandans shouldn't expect better treatment or payment in Somalia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted February 5, 2007 Somali's like talking a great deal. The AU has many formidable armies, such as the Nigerians, Ethiopians, South Africans and the Ugandans are not that bad in warfare. The thing is while we have been acting all brave amongst our selfs other have been developing.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wisdom_Seeker Posted February 5, 2007 The question should be will the Ugandans last 12 months in Somalia, I bet $10, they won’t. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted February 5, 2007 ^^^The AU will be in Somalia for 6 months and no more.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wisdom_Seeker Posted February 5, 2007 Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^The AU will be in Somalia for 6 months and no more.. “The Ugandan force, which is scheduled to leave in two weeks, will stay in Somalia for at least 12 months, after which the UN is expected to take over, according to the deployment plan.” Where did you get your information from? Duke, you disappoint me. According to the deployment plan, the Ugandan force is to stay in Somalia for at least 12 months , after that they will be replaced by the UN. Duke, your blatant misinformation isn’t fooling anyone, especially not me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted February 5, 2007 ^^^My information is solid, the AU will not stay in the country for that long.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Castro Posted February 5, 2007 Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^My information is solid, the AU will not stay in the country for that long.. Is it the same source that gave you the information below? Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^The tanks and the armour from Ethiopia was nothing compared to the Eritrean, oromo and outside support for the courts Sorry. I still can't get over this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taliban Posted February 5, 2007 Originally posted by General Duke: My information is solid, the AU will not stay in the country for that long.. The neocons said the same thing about Iraq; the 5th year of occupation is about to begin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted February 5, 2007 ^^^Again dont compare Iraq to Somalia, Iraq has a government that was ruling there for over three decades. Somalia has a new government that has been supported to reclaim its national territoy.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taliban Posted February 5, 2007 Originally posted by General Duke: Somalia has a new government that has been supported to reclaim its national territoy.. To reclaim its national territoy from whom? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wisdom_Seeker Posted February 5, 2007 Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^My information is solid, the AU will not stay in the country for that long.. Duke, at least have some shame. Know when to keep quiet. It is for your own sake. Nothing you say is ever solid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted February 5, 2007 ^^^It matters not if is solid to you, but most things I say with regards to Somalia have a tendency to come to pass, thanks to Allah of course.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
