KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces has promoted and appointed Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding as the new commander of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Okiding who previously served as the Commander Field Artillery Division in Masindi has seen his army rank rise from being a Major General to Lieutenant General with the new appointment.
“The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and UPDF fraternity congratulate the General Officer upon his well-deserved promotion and appointment,” said Defence Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye.
“We wish him all the best in his new assignments,” he added.
At the rank of Brigadier, Okiding led Uganda Sector one in deadly battles against Al Shabaab militants. Most of the military successes have been in Somalia.
Most of the military successes in Somalia in 2016 were as a result of his active combat operations.
One night in February 2016, Al Shabaab conducted an attack on UPDF Battle group XVI position at Qoryooley located 120km South West of Mogadishu.
UPDF foiled the attack and inflicted heavy causalities on Al Shabaab. Among the causalities Al-Shabaab suffered was the killing of a notorious commander called Mohammed Farwar who was not only the commander of the foiled attack but also a commander of a large portion of Lower Shebelle in Somalia, flagging from the general areas of Bujalow.
A few days later after the attack, the Ugandan forces under Brigadier Okiding, reacted to terrorist ambush in Marka and put out of action Al Shabaab commander called Abdu Rahman Pakeli. These successes are said to have endeared Okiding to President Museveni, the Somali government, United Nations and Somali people.
Lt Gen Okiding has also previously served as the Deputy Commader of Land Forces.
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