KAMPALA (SD) – Uganda has dismissed claims that its troops in Somalia killed over 189 al-Shabaab militants following a covert operation against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.

Last Friday, a statement reportedly issued by Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF), boasted that their troops under AMISOM eliminated the militants in villages of Sigaale, Adimole and Kayitoy, just over 100 km (62 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.

Uganda ambassador to the UN Adonia Ayebare stated that the reports claiming Uganda killed militants were ‘fake’.

“I have talked to the UPDF leadership the claim is fake news and was not an official claim and we should treat it as such,” said the ambassador.

The East African country was the first to deploy troops under AMISOM into Somalia 2007 during the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia led by Sheikh Sheikh Ahmed.

The Ugandan contingent remains the largest contingent in AMISOM with 6,223 troops based in Sector 1 which comprises of Banadir (Mogadishu), Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.

Dozens of Ugandan soldiers were killed in deadly attack conducted by al-Shabaab fighters.

Early 2018, Al-Shabaab militants stormed Uganda military base in Bulamarer town which lies some 80 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu.
The attack killed over 50 Ugandan soldiers and dozens wounded.