Uganda deploys over 1600 troops in Somalia

The Ugandan military late on Monday sent a new contingent of 1,600 peacekeepers in the war-torn Somalia to reinforce peace efforts and stabilize the country, a military spokesperson said here Tuesday. The troops under Uganda Battle Group (UGABAG) 13 will be deployed in sector one in Somalia, which is under control of Ugandan and Burundian troops, Ugandan military spokesperson Paddy Ankunda told Xinhua by telephone. "The troops are going to be deployed appropriately under sector one. The troops will help to consolidate peace and security in the liberated areas," Ankunda said. Ugandan and Burundian troops, under the auspices of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), were deployed in sector one, which comprises the regions of Banadir, Lower and Middle Shabelle, and in sector three, which covers the Bay and Bakool regions. They were also operating in the capital city of Mogadishu and Markal. The contingent, commanded by Col. William Bainomugisha, replaced the returning troops which landed at the Entebbe International Airport Monday. Uganda, which was the first country to deploy troops in Somalia in 2007, has about 8,000 troops in the country.