By Tusiime Apollo
Ugandan troops under African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia have regained full control of Bulo Mareer military base which was overun by Al-shabab militants on Friday last week.
The rescue combat force met resistance from Alshabaab sniper fire positioned in storey buildings and other pockets of resistance from fleeing remnants.
Army sources said Somali civilians who had abandoned the area due to the fire fight are now back to reoccupy their homes.
Brig Gen Peter Gaetano Omola, the sector one commander overseeing the operation at Goloweyn tactical base noted that after thorough combing of the area, there is normalcy. Civilians and travelers were free to carry on with their normal duties.
“We have combed the area to ensure no Alshabaab element is hiding and the road has been cleared of bombs. Normalcy has returned. People can now go on with their daily work.” Brig Gen Omola reassured, adding, “As UPDF serving under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia remain committed to supporting a Somali led peace and stability process as mandated by African Union.”
On 26th May 2023, Alshabaab using three vehicles laden with bombs and over 800 fighters attacked Buulomarer forward operating base.
The news of this sucess at the battlefront was shared by UPDF Deputy Spokesperson Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki on Wednesday evening.
Following the bloody attack of Friday, UPDF troops withdrew to the next Foward operation base about 9km away and since then they have been pursuing the militants killing some of them and regaining the equipment captured during the attack.
The army today said the return of bodies of UPDF soldiers who died in the attack will kick off next week. The exact number of casualities remain unclear though.
In his statement after the attack, president Museveni warned that the militants will regret their actions.