A Ugandan soldier, a member of the ATMIS (African Union Mission in Somalia) force, has appeared in a video released by Al-Shabaab, one of the militant groups in Somalia. In the video, he is among the hostages held by the group.

He appealed to the President of Uganda and the country’s leadership to negotiate for his release from captivity by Al-Shabaab.

Sergeant M. William, 48 years old, joined the Ugandan forces in 1997. In April 2023, he was stationed at the ATMIS base in Buulo Mareer, just before the May 26th incident where he was captured by Al-Shabaab.

In his message to the Ugandan government, the president, and the parliament, he stated, ‘This message goes to the Government of Uganda, the President, and the Parliament. I want to assure you that I am alive. I am asking you to make efforts to secure my release because I am a soldier of the Ugandan forces who has unfortunately fallen into the hands of Al-Shabaab.’

He urged the Ugandan government to explore any possible avenues for his release, emphasizing that he is a soldier who is among other Ugandan soldiers held by Al-Shabaab.

The Ugandan government, which has a significant number of troops deployed in Somalia, has previously faced challenges with the captivity of its soldiers by Al-Shabaab, who have targeted and killed Ugandan soldiers participating in the African Union mission in Somalia.