Sources close to Villa Somalia told Kaab TV that the request was made in response to increased Al-Shabaab activity in the Hirshabelle, at a time when the new African Union-led peacekeeping mission, AUSSOM (African Union Somalia Support Mission), remains underfunded and stalled.

Somalia Federal Government is wary that AUSSOM has yet to secure the necessary funding.

African nations are reportedly unable to shoulder the mission’s financial burden, and the United States has also declined to fully fund the operation.

Meanwhile, Burundian troops previously stationed near the town of Jowhar, the seat of Hirshabelle State, have reportedly withdrawn, creating a security vacuum.

President Museveni has firmly refused to replace the departing Burundian forces with Ugandan troops, a decision that could further destabilize the region.

In a surprising move, Burundian forces exited Garsaale—a strategic area that secures the airport in Jowhar.

Security officials in Hirshabelle’s Ministry of Security told Kaab TV that they were not informed of the Burundian troop withdrawal in advance.

The Burundi forces also vacated another key outpost near Jowhar that played a vital role in the city’s overall security.

The government of Burundi previously announced its intention to withdraw its forces from Somalia, citing dissatisfaction with how troops were allocated under the 2025 AUSSOM mission—an operation still lacking financial backing.

In recent weeks, Al-Shabaab has intensified its presence in parts of Middle Shabelle, seizing control of areas such as Masaajid Cali Guduud, Al-Kowthar, and Aadan Yabaal.

The group has also disrupted security along the road between Jowhar and Mogadishu, and entered the town of Balcad—just 30 kilometers from Mogadishu—at the end of March.

The unexpected withdrawal of Burundian forces has sparked fears among Jowhar residents, who now worry about the implications of the security vacuum left behind.

Jowhar is the capital of the Hirshabelle regional administration.

So far, Hirshabelle authorities have not announced a plan to fill the gaps left by the Burundian troops, whose presence had been critical to maintaining stability in the area.

The post Museveni Hesitant Somalia Request for Troop Deployment in Hirshabelle appeared first on Kaab TV.

On July 20, unidentified men punched and kicked at least six journalists at the headquarters of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in the capital city of Kampala and stole several of their mobile phones, according to media reports and five of the journalists, who spoke to CPJ.

In a separate incident that day, John Xerxes Ogulei, a reporter with the privately owned Teso Broadcasting Services, told CPJ that a police officer insulted him and slapped his hand, knocking his phone and tripod to the ground and breaking them. The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, a local rights group, tweeted a photograph of his broken tripod.

Ogulei told CPJ he was among journalists waiting to cover a meeting held by Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi in the eastern city of Soroti when the officer accused them of harming the government’s image through their coverage and assaulted him.

“It is unacceptable that violence has become an everyday hazard for journalists on the political beat in Uganda,” said CPJ’s sub-Saharan Africa representative, Muthoki Mumo. “The attacks on John Xerxes Ogulei and the journalists attending an FDC news conference in Kampala should be investigated impartially and those responsible held to account. The journalists should also be compensated for damaged and stolen equipment.”

Violence began at the headquarters of the FDC—Uganda’s biggest opposition party until the 2021 elections—after party chairperson Wasswa Birigwa invited journalists to a briefing but security guards barred them from entering the compound, according to media reports and the journalists who spoke to CPJ.

Birigwa said he was held hostage at the FDC headquarters amid a power struggle inside the party. Following an hours-long standoff, about 10 people believed to be Birigwa supporters arrived, demanding his release and banging on the gate. Another group of men exited the party headquarters and started beating and punching the journalists and the Birigwa supporters, according to news reports and the journalists who spoke to CPJ.

Charles Katabalwa, a reporter with the Catholic station Radio Sapientia, told CPJ that one assailant stole his phone while another kicked him in the back. Moses Waiswa, a reporter with the privately owned Busoga One FM radio station, told CPJ that one man slapped him, punched him in the face, and stole his phone. Joseph Balikuddembe of the privately owned station CBS FM told CPJ that he was punched in the head, sustained a cut lip, and his phone was stolen.

Arnold Lawrence Kinsambwe, a reporter with the Christian station BTM TV and Radio Sapientia, told CPJ that he fell into a ditch while dodging a punch, and a man snatched his phone as he was trying to climb out. Another kicked him in the back and as he was running away.

Nowamani Ainembabazi, an intern with the state-owned Urban TV, was punched in the mouth twice, according to its sister company New Vision and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. She told CPJ that the assailants snatched a mobile phone from her hands, and stole her bag which contained a second phone and money. She said that her lip was split, requiring stiches, and she has lost two teeth as a result of the attack. Ainembabazi told CPJ on July 31 that she needed further medical treatment for her injuries.

Multiple media reports said that George William Katoloba of the privately owned Namirembe FM was also attacked and had his phone stolen, but did not provide specific information about that incident. When contacted by CPJ, Katoloba declined to comment, citing safety concerns.

FDC President Patrick Amuriat referred CPJ to party communications official Norman Turyatemba for comment. In a phone interview on July 31, Turyatemba said the attack was “regrettable,” the party planned to compensate the journalists for their stolen devices, and was negotiating compensation for the journalists’ medical care.

Birigwa told CPJ that he was “disgusted” by the incident and apologized to journalists for the attack. Both Birigwa and Turyatemba said that the party would carry out internal investigations and hold those responsible to account.

In a statement sent to CPJ via messaging app on July 31, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said that investigations into the incident were ongoing and that police were analyzing CCTV footage and tracking stolen phones, but no arrests had been made.

National police spokesperson Fred Enanga did not respond to a request for comment sent via text message, including about the assault on Ogulei in Soroti.

CPJ has frequently documented attacks on journalists covering politics in Uganda. Last month, four reporters covering local elections in Uganda were also assaulted.

The post At least 7 Ugandan journalists assaulted, robbed at news conferences appeared first on Kaab TV.

The militant group claims that 137 soldiers were killed in the attack, while several others were captured alive. The attack began with multiple massive explosions leading to a fierce confrontation between Ugandan troops of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) and the al-Shabaab attackers in the dawn hours of Friday.

According to President Museveni, approximately 800 terrorists launched the assault on the base of Ugandan soldiers belonging to the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) in the town of Buulo Mareer, situated approximately 110km (68 miles) south of the capital, Mogadishu.

The president described the incident as unfortunate, emphasizing the successful operations of the Ugandan forces since 2007. He stated, “In the area of Bulo-Mareer, there was an FOB (Forward Operational Base) manned by a company of UPDF soldiers. Those defenses are quite strong, although they are guarded by light weapons. There were two tanks, two 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns, and a 107mm Katyusha rocket launcher. Some of the soldiers there did not perform as expected and panicked, which disorganized them, and the Al-Shabaab took advantage of that to overrun the base and destroy some of the equipment.”

Museveni highlighted that many of the Ugandan soldiers withdrew to the next base, located nine kilometers away, providing an opportunity for al-Shabaab suicide bombers to infiltrate the base.

Ugandans and Bazzukulu.

Greetings. Things are moving well on a number of fronts. I have concluded a tour on wealth creation issues in the Masaka zone.Masaka zone is doing well with coffee, bananas, palm oil and the dairy industry.

However, in the night of Thursday, at the 11th…

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 27, 2023

He further stated, “The terrorists were many, about 800 or so according to the UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles]. Hence, it was a missed opportunity to annihilate them. The operations are continuing, and they will regret their actions.”

Board of inquiry (BOI) to investigate

The Ugandan leader expressed his condolences to the country and the families of the deceased soldiers.

President Museveni announced the establishment of a board of inquiry (BOI) to investigate the incident thoroughly, including the details of the casualties.

He emphasized that this unfortunate event should serve as a reminder that operations in Somalia and other similar contexts are combat missions and not welfare missions, where access to UN allowances is possible. This remark referred to the higher pay received by ATMIS soldiers deployed in Somalia compared to the Somali security forces.

“It is criminal for anybody involved to send soldiers into such a theater who are either not suited for that mission or not properly prepared for it. Details will come out after the BOI has finished its work,” added President Museveni.

In a statement released on Friday, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for overrunning the Ugandan army base in Buulo Mareer. They stated that they seized weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.

The post Uganda initiates inquiry after deadly al-Shabaab raid on Buulo Mareer army base appeared first on Kaab TV.