The Deputy Commander Land Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, has commended Battle Group 41 for its professionalism and resilience following the completion of its tour of duty in Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission.
He delivered the commendation on Friday at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre in Ssingo during a ceremony that welcomed back Battle Group 41 and officially flagged off three outgoing contingents: Battle Group 46, United Nations Guard Unit 12, and Uganda Military Training and Mentor Team 10.
Maj Gen Takirwa said the returning troops had represented the country well and demonstrated the UPDF’s strong track record in international operations.
He also expressed confidence in the preparedness of the outgoing contingents, urging them to remain disciplined, stay focused on their mission, and continue upholding the force’s commitment to peace.
The Commandant of IPSO-TC, Col Moses Nabaasa, said the pre-mission training was conducted by UPDF instructors and commended the trainees for their active participation throughout the programme.
He reminded them of the central purpose of their deployment, noting that their mission is to foster stability and protect the communities they serve. “Let us not forget that our main goal is peace. Please maintain discipline while on mission,” he said.
The commander of Battle Group 41, Col Michael Walaka Hyeroba, thanked the UPDF leadership and IPSO-TC for the support that guided the contingent throughout its mission.
Present were Senior and Junior officers, and local area leaders.
