“I hope that is just a bad dream that will come to pass,” says Abdunor Ahmed, a Somali based in Kisenyi, Uganda, on his view about Uganda’s intention to withdraw her forces from Somalia. This is the wish of nearly every Somali, obviously apart from the militant al-Shabaab group. For the last two weeks, Uganda has been threatening to withdraw from Somalia if a leaked UN report blaming Uganda for supporting the M23 rebel outfit in DRC is published. Uganda […]

PRETORIA (Reuters) – Uganda feels “gutted” and “betrayed” by a U.N. report saying it is helping rebels in eastern Congo and will pull its troops out of peace-keeping operations in Somalia unless the allegations are withdrawn, its junior foreign minister said on Friday. Speaking four days after a senior U.S. official said she expected Kampala would keep its forces in the war-torn Horn of Africa nation, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem was adamant his government had not […]

Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya Prof  Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud ayaa kulan la qaatay Madaxweynaha dalka Uganda Yuweri Musafani iyadoona labada mas’uul ay ka wada hadleen xiriirka labada dowladood. Kulanka ay wada qaateen Madaxweynaha dowladda Soomaaliya Mudane Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud iyo dhigiisa dalka Uganda ayaa waxa uu ka dhacay xarunta madaxtooyada magaalada Kambaala waxaana mas’uuliyiinta ay ka wada hadleen sii xoojinta xiriirka labada dal. Sidoo kala kulanka ayaa looga hadlay sidii dalka loo keeni lahaa ciidamo dheeraad ah oo ka socdo dowladda Uganda […]

Ugandan Asians: The doctor Amin could neither ignore nor expel IN SUMMARY In the 14th part of our series, Vali Jamal in his book on Uganda Asians features Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, one of the Asians who remained in Uganda even when they were expelled by President Amin in 1972. The president recognised that his services to the country were far more useful than his citizenship, and exempted him. His wife is a social organiser whose contribution has been commended by even First Lady […]

Uganda’s Makerere University Business School (MUS is to train the newly elected leaders of the Somali government on local government and management structures, local media reported here on Monday. The state owned New Vision daily reported that Wasswa Balunya, MUSvice chancellor, and Mohamed Ahmed Noor, mayor of the Somali capital Mogadishu, last week signed a memorandum of understanding geared at equipping the leaders with administrative skills and bring better administration in the war ravaged Horn of African country. Balunya said […]

    The Somalia Government will honour the blood shed by Ugandans to restore relative peace prevailing in Somalia and has enabled the Horn of Africa nation restart the democratization process, after over two decades of conflict. “The tree of freedom, democracy and sovereignty of Somalia thrives from the blood of Ugandans who pioneered in the Liberation of this country,” Somali Parliament Speaker, Prof. Mohamed Osman Jawari stated. “You are the soul of this country. Our Government and the people […]

Hundreds of Somali nationals residing in Kampala took to the streets celebrating the election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as Somalis new president. The Somalis, majority of them women refugees sang songs and danced during the heavy down pour that characterized the day. Uganda is host to over 40,000 Somalis, majority refugees residing in many districts and in leading settlement camps. Somalia’s new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a political newcomer, was elected by the Parliament replacing the outgoing President Sheik Sharif […]

IN SUMMARY Birta Dheer was seized amid gunfire between the troops and the rebels. Reports from Somalia indicate that there were armed confrontations between Amisom troops, the Somali government forces, Ras Kamboni Brigade and al-Shabaab fighters at Birta Dheer on Saturday. Birta Dheer, located about 60 kilometres west of the port town of Kismayu, is a heavily guarded post that had been under the control of the al-Shabaab for the past three years. The allied forces reportedly advanced from Bibi […]

A Pan African Parliament (PAP) delegation has commended the Uganda People’sDefence Forces (UPDF) in its efforts to pacify the Great Lakes Region. The delegation comprising Uganda’s Representatives Cecilia Ogwal (FDC Dokolo district) and Onyango Kakooba (NRM, Buikwe North) on Wednesday visited the Peace, Support Operations Training Centre, located in Singo, Nakasongola district. Ogwal is the Vice Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Administration and Financial Evaluation (CAFÉ); while Onyango Kakooba is the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Human […]

IN SUMMARY Somalia has lacked an effective central government since president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991 Outgoing president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed one of the favourites The new parliament to vote in a secret ballot in up to three rounds   MOGADISHU Somalia’s 25 presidential hopefuls were campaigning ahead of an election due Monday, the final stage of a UN-backed process to set up a new administration for the war-torn country. The election has been delayed several times — […]