UPDF Soldiers Get Over 40 Billion AMISOM Cash

Uganda has received Shs42 billion shillings for UPDF soldiers operating in Somalia under the Africa Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The soldiers of battle groups XXIII, XXIV, and XXV have benefited from the allowance that covers the months of October, November and December 2018, highly placed sources have told this reporter.

Soldiers earn $1028 monthly which translates to Shs3.8 million. This also means that the soldiers will get At least Shs11.4million for the three months.

However, government cuts 200 USD for administration and bank charges.

Uganda also gets compensation from Contingent Owned Equipment that brings into the economy billions of shillings annually.

Meanwhile, the government of Uganda has been complaining to the UN and AU on non-compensation of helicopters and personnel who crashed in Kenya en route to Somalia for the AU mission.

The crash

On August 12 this year, it will be seven years since three UPDF choppers crashed over Mt Kenya en-route to Somalia and left seven soldiers dead.

Since then, many changes have happened but the one thing that has remained unclear is whether Uganda will ever be compensated by the UN for the loss.

Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire, who was sacked from the position of Commander of Air Force, is now commander of all 20,000 Amisom troops in Somalia.

Amisom troops are from five countries of Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Burundi.