Uganda: NRM MPs Approve UPDF Deployment To Somalia

Kampala, September 6, 2006 – THE NRM Parliamentary Caucus has approved the deployment of the UPDF in the war-torn Somalia. This follows a similar decision by the Cabinet a few weeks ago.

The Minister for Defense, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, presented the request to the caucus meeting at the Parliamentary Main Hall in Kampala last Monday.

President Yoweri Museveni, ministers and MPs attended the meeting.

This means that the final decision to effect the deployment lies with Parliament.

Article 210 of the Constitution requires the government to seek the approval of Parliament before deploying troops outside the country.

A source at the caucus told Daily Monitor yesterday that the UPDF would be going to Somalia on a peace mission and nothing more.

On concerns by MPs that Somalia was a hostile place where the UPDF would face a lot of resistance, Kiyonga said all those concerns and risks were considered when planning the deployment.

A team of British Army experts who have served in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, on Monday started a training programme with the UPDF to strengthen its ability to take part in peacekeeping operations.

The State Minister for Defense, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, said her ministry would soon present the legal instruments seeking parliamentary approval.

Sources said recently that deployment of UPDF soldiers in Somalia was suspended indefinitely but no reason was given for the suspension.

According to the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development plan, the UPDF and the Sudan People's Armed Forces were to be deployed in Somalia last Sunday.

By Richard Mutumba

Parliament

Source: The Monitor

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