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Ugandan opposition leaders okay presence of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia  

Storyline:National News

In less than three days, Uganda is expected to hold general elections and President Yoweri Museveni’s main challenger in this year’s vote, longtime opposition leader Kizza Besigye has spoken about Ugandan soldiers in Somalia.

At the final presidential debate held on Saturday evening, Mr Besigye said he is in support of the presence of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia as peacekeepers and it was necessary for Uganda government take part the stabilization of Horn of Africa region.

He pointed out that the factor that influences Somalia’s insecurity beings bad politics.

Meanwhile another presidential contender, Benan Beraro during the debate has okayed the presence of country’s troops who are operating under the framework of AMISOM in Somalia but reminded Somalis to build their country.

“The role of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia was to create atmosphere of peace which can lead Somalis to build their country, but it is not Uganda who is going to build their country for them,” said Benan.

Uganda which has not had a peaceful transfer of power since the country’s independence from Britain in 1962 was the first country to deploy troops under AMISOM into Somalia in March 2007

The Ugandan contingent remains the largest contingent in AMISOM with 6,223 troops based in Sector 1 which comprises of Banadir (Mogadishu), Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.

Ugandans will choose a new president on Thursday, and opinion polls have shown Museveni in a close race with opposition leader Kizza Besigye to lead this east African nation of 36 million.

Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been holding massive rallies across the country as he campaigns on a promise to clean up Ugandan politics and to improve government efficiency.