Somalian President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is currently in Uganda, has commended his Ugandan President Museveni, for the unwavering support in fighting terrorism by training the army.
President Mohamud stated this on Sunday evening at the passing out of 2,900 trainees for the Somali National Army, who have successfully concluded their four-month special Basic Military Training at the Special Mission Training Centre in Butiaba, Bulisa District.
“This is not the first time that Uganda has contributed to the peaceful establishment of the Somali State. Somalia is grateful and will ever remain indebted for the sacrifices that the government and the people of Uganda under the leadership of His Excellency President Museveni has done to Somalia at very difficult times,” President Mohamud said.
The two heads of state also witnessed military demonstrations at the range grounds conducted by the Somali graduands that included among others very impressive and spectacular marksmanship in range firing, patrols, check points hose clearing and VIP protection-suicide attacks.
President Mohamud described the pass out occasion as the signing of the history of partnership between Somalia and Uganda in defeating terrorism in Africa and in particular the horn of Africa.
He recalled that it has been a decade and a half since the first contingent of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) stepped in Somalia.
“At that time, there was a lot of uncertainty, very insecure, a very doubtful future where many people were publicly saying that the Ugandans will fail in Somalia. This has been proven wrong. The Ugandan contingent landed in Somalia and has been the seed of many other African countries who also followed the footsteps of Uganda at very difficult and uncertain times in the past,” he said.
