This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24116606
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Uganda suspends officers sent to Somalia on AU mission | Uganda suspends officers sent to Somalia on AU mission |
(35 minutes later) | |
Uganda has suspended 20 army officers accused of corruption in Somalia while battling Islamist militants as part of an African Union (AU) force, a Ugandan army spokesman has told the BBC. | Uganda has suspended 20 army officers accused of corruption in Somalia while battling Islamist militants as part of an African Union (AU) force, a Ugandan army spokesman has told the BBC. |
The officers are accused of selling food and fuel, meant for troops, on the black market, reports say. | The officers are accused of selling food and fuel, meant for troops, on the black market, reports say. |
The Ugandan contingent head, Brigadier Michael Ondoga, is among those being investigated. | The Ugandan contingent head, Brigadier Michael Ondoga, is among those being investigated. |
Uganda is the biggest contributor to the AU force of about 18,000. | Uganda is the biggest contributor to the AU force of about 18,000. |
The force, funded mainly by the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) is fighting the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group in Somalia. | The force, funded mainly by the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) is fighting the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group in Somalia. |
Brigadier Ondoga has not commented on the allegations. | Brigadier Ondoga has not commented on the allegations. |
'Only one meal' | 'Only one meal' |
He was among the officers who had been recalled for allegedly "getting involved in conduct injurious" to the AU force, a Ugandan defence ministry spokesman said, AFP news agency reports. | He was among the officers who had been recalled for allegedly "getting involved in conduct injurious" to the AU force, a Ugandan defence ministry spokesman said, AFP news agency reports. |
Army spokesman Colonel Paddy Ankunda told the BBC Swahili Service that the 20 would remain suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations against them. | Army spokesman Colonel Paddy Ankunda told the BBC Swahili Service that the 20 would remain suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations against them. |
The investigation followed complaints by junior officers of "unscrupulous conduct" by their superiors, he said. | |
This included allegations that junior officers were not being paid and food meant for them was being sold, Col Ankunda told the BBC. | |
The suspended officers would be court-martialled and dismissed from the army if found guilty, he added. | |
Uganda's privately owned Daily Monitor newspaper said in a report that Ugandan soldiers in Somalia often get only one meal a day because of the alleged theft and sale of food to private companies. | |
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni had cancelled Brig Ondoga's appointment as military attache to Kenya, it reports. | Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni had cancelled Brig Ondoga's appointment as military attache to Kenya, it reports. |
He was due to have taken the post when his term as head of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia ended at the end of the month, the Daily Monitor adds. | He was due to have taken the post when his term as head of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia ended at the end of the month, the Daily Monitor adds. |
Uganda has more than 6,000 troops in the AU force in Somalia. | Uganda has more than 6,000 troops in the AU force in Somalia. |
Other countries that have deployed troops to Somalia as part of the AU force include Burundi, Kenya and Djibouti. | Other countries that have deployed troops to Somalia as part of the AU force include Burundi, Kenya and Djibouti. |
The force has helped the UN-backed Somali government regain control of key cities and towns from al-Shabab. | The force has helped the UN-backed Somali government regain control of key cities and towns from al-Shabab. |
However, most of southern Somalia still remains under al-Shabab's control. | However, most of southern Somalia still remains under al-Shabab's control. |
Previous version
1
Next version