Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
“There was an attack this morning at our base… by elements of al-Shabab,” the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) deputy spokesman Deo Akiiki said.
The army base is located in Bulo Marer, 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
“ATMIS forces are currently assessing the security situation,” the AU force, known as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), said in a statement, without giving further details.
Al-Shabab claimed in a statement that it carried out suicide bomb attacks and killed 137 soldiers.
However, a Somali military captain told Reuters news agency that the militants attacked two bases. He said this 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.”
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.
The al-Qaida-linked jihadist group seeks to establish its own rule. This is based on its strict interpretation of Islamic law in the fragile Horn of Africa country.
In recent months, the army and militias have retaken swathes of territory in the center of the troubled country in an operation backed by ATMIS and US airstrikes. The 20,000-strong ATMIS force has a more offensive remit than its predecessor known as AMISOM.
The force is drawn from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, with troops deployed in southern and central Somalia. Its goal is to hand over security responsibilities to Somalia’s army and police by 2024.
Despite the gains by ATMIS and other pro-government forces, the militants have continued to strike with lethal force against civilian and military targets.
In the deadliest al-Shabab attack since the offensive was launched last year, 121 people were killed in October by two car bombings at the Education Ministry in Mogadishu.
The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said in February that 2022 was the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017. This is largely as a result of al-Shabab attacks.
mm/sri (AFP, Reuters)
Check Also;
- UPDF Kills Over 180 Al Shabaab Fighters, Captures Two Commanders
- Senior Islamic State Figure Killed In Somalia Raid
- UPDF Chopper Crashes In Somalia, Soldiers Rescued
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
