The United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) has trained 37 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in emergency first aid skills to enhance their ability to provide immediate medical assistance on the battlefield.
This training initiative comes at a critical time when Al-Shabaab has been making significant advances by recapturing key areas in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions.
According to a statement from UPDF’s public information office led by Col Chris Magezi, the 37 personnel will operate under the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) in Somalia.
They have completed an intensive Battlefield Emergency First Aid (BEFA) training programme, delivered by UNTMIS in collaboration with the United Nations Support Office.
The training aims to bolster the troops’ capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to medical emergencies in combat zones.
The UPDF stated that the Participants were trained in a range of critical lifesaving techniques, including basic life support, wound and injury management, control of catastrophic bleeding, infection response, systematic casualty assessment, and treatment of hypothermia.
Recently, Uganda’s Minister of Defence, Jacob Oboth, emphasized the need to increase peacekeeping forces in Somalia to counter the rapid advances made by Al-Shabaab.
During a meeting with commanders from Troops Contributing Countries (TCCs) in Kampala, Minister Oboth highlighted that as Al-Shabaab has taken control of many parts of the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions where foreign troops have been reduced the pace of their gains suggests a need for more, not fewer, forces.
Uganda has maintained a peacekeeping presence in Somalia for over 18 years.
However, the decision to downsize the troops’ deployment was influenced by the 2021 resolution by the UN Security Council Permanent Members such as the US, UK, France, and Germany to cut aid, citing that foreign troops had outlived their purpose and that Somalia’s National Army should take greater responsibility for its security.
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