Uganda to deploy fresh troops in Somalia amidst increased attacks

KAMPALA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military is to replace the 1,600 peacekeepers in volatile Somalia with a new contingent amidst increased attacks on the force, a military spokesman has said.
Maj. Paddy Ankunda, Uganda People's Defense Force spokesman told Xinhua by telephone on Monday that the new contingent, which is to be deployed 'soon', has finalized its training and is ready for Somalia.
"The attacks won't affect our deployment," said Ankunda, confirming reports that two Ugandan peacekeepers have been killed by Islamic militants in the last two days.
The militants are reported to have killed one peacekeeper on Monday, a day after the other was killed while on routine patrol in the capital of Mogadishu, bringing the number of those dead to seven since the East African country deployed in Somalia in March 2007.
Ankunda said the redeployment is a requirement by the African Union (AU) that forces on a peace keeping mission are rotated after every three months.
Uganda last month called for UN intervention in the lawless horn of African country, noting other African countries which promised to send troops have failed to honor their pledge and yet the situation is deteriorating.
The AU authorized the deployment of 8,000 troops but only 2,600peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi are on the ground amidst escalating violence.
Since the Somali government backed by Ethiopian troops ousted the Islamist in December 2006, the militants have resorted to carrying out almost daily attacks against Ethiopian troops, Somali government forces and AU peacekeepers.
Somalia has lacked an effective central authority since the 1991 ouster of military strongman Mohamed Siad Barre.