KAMPALA, Uganda, March 14, 2007 – THE three UPDF soldiers, who were injured in last week's rocket grenade attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu have been flown back to Kampala for treatment.

Daily Monitor has established that two of the victims are admitted at Mbuya Military Hospital while the other is in Ward 6A at Mulago Hospital.

"They were flown back to Kampala for treatment," said Capt. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman of the UPDF peacekeeping mission in Mogadishu. Two of the wounded were identified as Lt. Wandera, who was the commander of the unit that was attacked by the insurgents and Pte. Robert Ntake.

Daily Monitor had not yet established the identity of the third victim by press time.

The UPDF convoy was attacked by insurgents in Mogadishu on March 8 during a welcome ceremony at Mogadishu airport.

Pte. Ntake sustained wounds on the leg while Lt. Wandera suffered an impaired vision as a result of the mortar attack. Sources say the third soldier got injured in the process of saving Pte. Ntake's life.

Two of his fingers were cut off when the shutter of the Mamba hit him during the process of giving first aid to Pte. Ntake. "The shutter of the mamba is very heavy. It was open and it suddenly hit back," a source said.

Sources at Mulago hospital told Daily Monitor that Lt. Wandera underwent an eye operation on Monday but it wasn't very successful. "He has been referred to Nairobi Hospital because the equipment to finish the operation are not in Mulago. At the moment, he can't see," a source said.

However, despite the attack, the UPDF soldiers are upbeat about Somalia. Capt. Ankunda yesterday said; "The situation is calm. We are in charge."

Source: Daily Monitor