International News
Uganda deploys new contingent of police officers to Somalia
The Uganda Police Force has deployed the main body of a new contingent of officers to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The newly deployed 145 personnel, from the Formed Police Unit (FPU), arrived on Tuesday morning and will be under the command of Superintendent of Police (SP) Esau Opio Atorom.
The Contingent replaces another one (UFPU-9) that has completed its one-year tour of duty. Uganda is one of the Police Contributing Countries under AMISOM, deploying Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Formed Police personnel. Other Police Contributing countries are Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zambia.
There was a command handover ceremony on February 20, 2022, at Aljazeera 2 Camp, Graced by the AMISOM Police Commissioner and the Honorable Senior Police Leadership (PSLT) as witnessed by Senior Uganda Police Officer serving under AMISOM ACP Agapitus Ecotu.
Deputy Contingent Commander ASP Okello Daniel noted that his goal is to work hard and make sure that Somalia gets peace and development. “I have come to give a hand with my group that is to join the Advance team that was earlier here with the Contingent Commander so that Somalia can gain its past glory.”
Maj. Dr Ahmed Eid, the FMO-Public Health Officer for AMISOM, challenged the newly deployed Ugandan officers and men to play their role and contribute to the fulfillment of the AMISOM Mandate in Somalia as they observe the strict measure against Covid-19 whether it’s said that there’s no contagion. He urged the personnel to follow the guidelines by always washing hands with water and soap, sanitizing, and also minimizing being in social gatherings so as to live in a healthy environment.
“Somalia is in its full gears conducting Elections and they need a lot of support in terms of improving policing in the country, securing the vital installations, and protection of all delegates and their ballots. The team that has been here played their big role and now the ball is left in the hands of you who have come in to fill the gap as we expect a great output from the fresh warriors,” said Operations Commander ASP Bashir.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sylvester Kabaso, the Team Leader Inspection and Control Unit Officer, noted that he was opportune by the progress made by the Logistics Officers who were able to secure the venue under which they could brief the personnel before moving to the Transit Camp where they will undergo a mandatory quarantine period of fourteen (14) days.
“As we have arrived in the Mission area, there is still more to be done in Somalia, we cannot relax on issues of security. This is because every day the situation keeps on changing and less predictable. As a result, security has to be intensified each day on areas you will be deployed as we shall understand the environment after Induction Training,” said SP Agaisa .
AMISOM Police has a Mandate of providing operational support to the Somali Police Force (SPF), to help it perform policing functions effectively as per international policing standards.
The FPUs perform various duties, among them, community policing, counter-terror operations, public order management, explosives disposal, and cordon and search operations. All the functions are aimed at securing Somalia and making it a stable nation. AMISOM has been at the forefront in strengthening the SPF to enable it to restore law and order in towns and other liberated areas.
Present at the ceremony were; MOVCON Officer; ASP Titilayo Ezenuani, ASP Lodrick Chinyama & IP Martha Michael, Admin & Personnel CIP Awere Eric & Sgt Isiro James, Inspection & Control Unit Officer CIP Michael Kweitsu, Reform Restructuring & Development Medical Advisor IP Nzioki Geoffrey, Logistics Officer ASP Osman Kamara and Logistics Planners IP Kandugu Ephantus and CIP Brakatu Edward Oko among Others.
