Ethiopian News Agency (ENA)
Addis Ababa
Saturday, February 17, 2007
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Uganda is reportedly preparing to send its first batch of peace-keeping troops to Somalia as early as today.
The chief spokesman for Uganda's Ministry of Defence told VOA that Ugandan army Major General Levi Karuhanga has been tapped to command forces from at least five African Union member states contributing troops to help stabilize Somalia.
The spokesman, Major Felix Kulayigye says that the 1,500 troops Uganda is sending to Somalia will be based in the country's capital, Mogadishu.
"These are soldiers who have prepared for two years for that mission," he said. " They are well-seasoned combatants."
They have been in counter-insurgency operations in northern Uganda. We are psychologically, physically and materially prepared, the spokesman added.
Source: ENA, Feb 17, 2007