Editing Uganda People's Defence Force (section)

===African Union Mission in Somalia===
[[File:2017 04 Uganda CDF AMISOM FC Visit Barawe-6 (32103511035).jpg|thumb|Ugandan [[Chief of Defence Forces (Uganda)|Chief of Defence Forces]] General [[Katumba Wamala]] with Ugandan soldiers as part of AMISOM in 2017]]
The UPDF has more than 6,200 soldiers serving with the [[African Union Mission in Somalia]] (AMISOM).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://amisom-au.org/uganda-updf | title=Uganda - UPDF | work=AMISOM | access-date=2 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325030744/http://amisom-au.org/uganda-updf/ | archive-date=25 March 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> The AMISOM force commander is Kenyan [[Lieutenant General]] [[Jonathan Rono]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://amisom-au.org/mission-profile/military-component |title=AMISOM Military Component, AMISOM, accessed 2 October 2016 |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321125255/http://amisom-au.org/mission-profile/military-component/ |archive-date=21 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The force commander in 2009, Ugandan [[Major General]] [[Nathan Mugisha]], was wounded in a car bomb attack on 17 September 2009 that left nine soldiers dead,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200909180007.html |title=allAfrica.com: Somalia: Top UPDF General Wounded in Somalia (Page 1 of 1) |access-date=19 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924232536/http://allafrica.com/stories/200909180007.html |archive-date=24 September 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> including Burundian Major General [[Juvenal Niyoyunguruza]], the second in command.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://levisionnaire-infos.blogspot.nl/2009/09/le-major-general-juvenal-niyoyunguruza.html | title=LE VISIONNAIRE: Le Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza trouve la mort en Somalie | work=Le Visionnaire | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527205316/http://levisionnaire-infos.blogspot.nl/2009/09/le-major-general-juvenal-niyoyunguruza.html | archive-date=27 May 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The United States has provided extensive training for UPDF contingents headed for Somalia. In the first half of 2012, Force Recon Marines from Special Purpose [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] 12 (SPMAGTF-12) trained soldiers from the UPDF.<ref>Nick Turse, [http://www.alternet.org/hot-news-views/election-year-outsourcing-no-ones-talking-about-us-fighting-proxy-wars-around-globe#.UCmI4bRfC9A.care2 The Election Year Outsourcing No One's Talking About: The U.S. Fighting Proxy Wars Around the Globe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193654/http://www.alternet.org/hot-news-views/election-year-outsourcing-no-ones-talking-about-us-fighting-proxy-wars-around-globe#.UCmI4bRfC9A.care2 |date=29 October 2013 }} TomDespatch.com/Alternet.org, 13 August 2012</ref>

In addition, a significant amount of support to AMISOM has been provided by private companies. "Bancroft Global Development, headquartered on Washington's Embassy Row, employs about 40 South African and European trainers who work with [AMISOM's] Ugandan and Burundian troops."<ref>Kevin J. Kelley, Somalia: How 'Quiet Americans' Helped Defeat Al Shabaab, Garoweonline.com, 22 Aug 2011.</ref> Bancroft director Michael Stock told ''[[The EastAfrican]]'' that these mentors are embedded with AMISOM units in Mogadishu and southern and central Somalia. They coach commanders on how to predict and defeat the tactics which foreign fighters bring from outside East Africa and teach to [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|al-Shabaab]].<ref name="Ghosts of Kampala"/>

On 12 August 2012, two Ugandan [[Mil Mi-24]]s flying from [[Entebbe]] across [[Kenya]] to Somalia crashed in rugged terrain in Kenya. They were found two days later, burned out, with no likely survivors from the ten Ugandan servicemen on board the two helicopters. Another aircraft from the same flight crashed on [[Mount Kenya]], and all seven Ugandan servicemen on board were rescued a day later. The aircraft were supporting AMISOM in the ongoing [[Somali War#War in Somalia (2009–present)|Somali Civil War]]. An accompanying [[Mil Mi-17]] transport helicopter landed without problems in the eastern Kenyan town of [[Garissa]] near the Somali border for a scheduled refuelling stop.<ref>[http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Burnt_wreckage_of_two_Ugandan_army_helicopters_found_army_999.html Burnt wreckage of two Ugandan army helicopters found] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209235013/http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Burnt_wreckage_of_two_Ugandan_army_helicopters_found_army_999.html|date=9 December 2013}}, [[Agence France-Presse]] via [[SpaceWar.com]], 14 October 2012, accessed 15 August 2012</ref>

In August 2014, AMISOM launched [[Operation Indian Ocean]] against al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle and other coastal areas of southcentral Somalia.<ref name="Spsgdncfmaep">{{cite news | title=SOMALIA: President says Godane is dead, now is the chance for the members of al-Shabaab to embrace peace | url=http://www.raxanreeb.com/2014/09/somalia-president-says-godane-is-dead-now-is-the-chance-for-the-members-of-al-shabaab-to-embrace-peace | access-date=6 September 2014 | agency=Raxanreeb | date=5 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906202740/http://www.raxanreeb.com/2014/09/somalia-president-says-godane-is-dead-now-is-the-chance-for-the-members-of-al-shabaab-to-embrace-peace/ | archive-date=6 September 2014 | url-status=dead}}</ref> On 1 September 2014, a U.S. drone strike carried out as part of the broader mission killed Al-Shabaab leader [[Moktar Ali Zubeyr]].<ref name="Pcdostl">{{cite news | title=Pentagon Confirms Death of Somalia Terror Leader | url=http://www.garoweonline.com/page/show/post/292/pentagon-confirms-death-of-somalia-terror-leader | access-date=6 September 2014 | agency=Associated Press | date=5 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906202437/http://www.garoweonline.com/page/show/post/292/pentagon-confirms-death-of-somalia-terror-leader | archive-date=6 September 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> According to Pentagon spokesperson Admiral John Kirby, the Ugandan AMISOM forces had informed U.S. intelligence about where Godane and other Al-Shabaab leaders were meeting and provided information on a convoy of vehicles in which he was traveling.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201409181341.html | title=allAfrica.com: Uganda: More Information Emerges on How Intelligence From Uganda Forces Led to the Killing of Alshabaab Leader | work=allAfrica.com | date=18 September 2014 | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502101345/http://allafrica.com/stories/201409181341.html | archive-date=2 May 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Al-Shabaab subsequently threatened an attack in Uganda for the UPDF contingent's role within AMISOM and the strike on Godane.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/659464-uganda-gave-us-crucial-intel-on-al-shabaab-leader.html | title=Uganda gave US crucial intel on Al Shabaab leader | date=6 September 2014 | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026151203/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/659464-uganda-gave-us-crucial-intel-on-al-shabaab-leader.html | archive-date=26 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-islamist-threat-idUSKBN0H41KS20140909 | title=Somali militants threaten U.S. attacks to avenge leader's death | work=Reuters | date=9 September 2014 | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026152826/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/09/us-somalia-islamist-threat-idUSKBN0H41KS20140909 | archive-date=26 October 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> The Ugandan security services, with the assistance of the U.S. military and intelligence, then identified and foiled a major Al-Shabaab terrorist attack in the Ugandan capital Kampala. They recovered suicide vests, other explosives, and small arms and detained Al-Shabaab operatives.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/uganda-forces-discover-suicide-vests-ieds-at-suspected-terrorist-cell-1410783132 | title=Uganda Forces Discover Suicide Vests, Explosives at Suspected Terrorist Cell | first=Nicholas | last=Bariyo | date=15 September 2014 | work=The Wall Street Journal | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920141607/http://online.wsj.com/articles/uganda-forces-discover-suicide-vests-ieds-at-suspected-terrorist-cell-1410783132 | archive-date=20 September 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newsweek.com/ugandan-police-seize-explosives-suicide-vests-suspected-al-shabaab-cell-270345 |title=UGANDAN POLICE SEIZE EXPLOSIVES, SUICIDE VESTS FROM SUSPECTED AL SHABAAB CELL |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921203501/http://www.newsweek.com/ugandan-police-seize-explosives-suicide-vests-suspected-al-shabaab-cell-270345 |archive-date=21 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-15/uganda-raids-suspected-terror-cell/5743746 | title=Uganda seizes explosives, suicide vests from suspected terrorist cell in capital of Kampala | work=ABC News | date=14 September 2014 | access-date=30 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405061945/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-15/uganda-raids-suspected-terror-cell/5743746 | archive-date=5 April 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 August 2021 [[Golweyn ambush|Ugandan AMISOM soldiers were ambushed]] by Al-Shabab near [[Golweyn]] in [[Lower Shabelle]]. A gunfight ensued in which one UPDF soldier died. But ''after'' the gunfight with the insurgents the Ugandan troops allegedly killed 7 Somali civilians. AMISOM immediately launched an investigation that will report its findings on 6 September 2021.<ref>[https://madmimi.com/p/ab2ab21?pact=535-164327303-6296597157-3820082d33673daeb961b392ce199c2d00568be5 AMISOM launches investigation into Golweyn incident in the Lower Shabelle Region], AMISOM Press release PR/20/2021, 11 August 2021. Only a few days later, this Press Release was deleted from [https://amisom-au.org/ the AMISOM website].</ref><ref>[https://amisom-au.org/2021/08/amisom-commits-to-swift-and-transparent-inquiry-into-golweyn-incident/ AMISOM commits to swift and transparent inquiry into golweyn incident], AMISOM Press release PR/21/2021, 21 August 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_somali-governor-says-au-soldiers-killed-civilians-after-al-shabab-ambush/6209636.html Somali Governor Says AU Soldiers Killed Civilians After Al-Shabab Ambush], VOA -News (Voice of America), 16 August 2021.</ref><ref>[https://newscentral.africa/2021/08/17/somali-governor-accuses-au-soldiers-of-killing-civilians-after-al-shabaab-ambush/ Somali Governor Accuses AU Soldiers of Killing Civilians After Al-Shabaab Ambush] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817091956/https://newscentral.africa/2021/08/17/somali-governor-accuses-au-soldiers-of-killing-civilians-after-al-shabaab-ambush/ |date=17 August 2021 }}, NewsCentral TV, 17 August 2021.</ref><ref>[https://shahidinews.co.ke/2021/08/12/amisom-probing-alleged-death-of-civilians-at-hands-of-uganda-peoples-defense-forces-in-somalia/ AMISOM Probing Alleged Death Of Civilians At Hands Of Uganda People's Defense Forces In Somalia], Shahidi News, Kenya, 12 August 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-58295722 AMISOM: "Toddobadii qof ee aan ku dilnay deegaanka Golweyn ma ahayn Al-Shabaab" (AMISOM: "The seven people we killed in Golweyn were not Al-Shabaab")], BBC, 22 August 2021.</ref>{{Update inline|date=December 2021}}