STORY: African Union hails Uganda for its

contribution in stabilizing Somalia

DURATION: 6:40
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 5 APRIL 2017, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Wide shot, parade of honour for the Special

Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco
Madeira, at the medal award ceremony
2. Med shot, Uganda, African Union and Somali flags
3. Wide shot, SRCC Madeira arriving to preside over the
ceremony
4. Med shot, SRCC Madeira being welcomed by AMISOM
Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh, and
AMISOM Sector One Commander, Brig. Kayanja Muhanga
5. Close up shot, SRCC Madeira
6. Wide shot, parade of honour
7. Med shot, SRCC Madeira
8. Med shot, parade of honour
9. Wide shot, SRCC, AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen.
Osman Noor Soubagleh, and AMISOM Sector One Commander,
Brig. Kayanja Muhanga observing the parade
10. Med shot, parade of honour
11. Wide shot, parade of honour
12. Wide shot, SRCC Madeira inspecting the parade
13. Wide shot, SRCC Madeira inspecting the parade
14. Med shot, SRCC Madeira inspecting the parade
15. Med shot, SRCC Madeira receiving a salute of
honour
16. Wide shot, African Union medal recipients prepare
to receive the medals
17. Med shot, officers holding the medals before they
are given out
18. Close up shot, a soldier waiting to receive a medal
19. Med shot, soldiers waiting to receive medals
20. Close up shot, a soldier waiting to receive a medal
 21. Close up shot, a soldier waiting to receive a medal
22. Close up shot, medals and certificates being
carried
23. Med shot, medals
24. Wide shot, Officers before receiving the medals
25. Med shot, SRCC Madeira pinning a medal on the
outgoing Battle Group 18 Commander, Col. Ronald Bigirwa
26. Close up medal
27. Wide shot, Col. Ronald Bigirwa receiving a
certificate from SRCC Madeira
28. Wide shot, officers marching forward to receive
their medals
29. Med shot, AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen.
Osman Noor Soubagleh awarding a certificate to a soldier
30. Med shot, an officer receiving a medal
31. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ambassador Francisco
Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of
the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia
Let me take this opportunity to thank your country and thank all
your colleagues from Uganda who started this Mission by sacrificing
their lives. Let me thank President Museveni for his vision of a
statesman, a vision of somebody who has acquired experience in
the struggle, in trying to unite his country, in stabilizing his own
country, in getting rid of dictators, exploiters and giving direction,
leadership and vision to his country.

32. Wide shot, an officer receives a certificate from

the SRCC
33. Med shot, an officer receives a medal
34. Close up shot, medal
35. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ambassador Francisco
Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of
the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia
Uganda could have remained in Kampala and Luwero Triangle and
elsewhere but understood very well that as long as Somalia is what
it is or what it was in 2007, Uganda would not be safe. Indeed,
history has shown that in 2010 Uganda was attacked by an enemy
theoretically operating in Somalia. This understanding of Uganda is
shared by all of our Heads of State and they decided through the
Peace and Security Council that we need to come to Somalia and
help stabilize this country and contain the Al-Shabaab.

36. Close up shot, Commander of the UN Guard Force

Lt. Col. Keith Katungi at the ceremony
37. Med shot, medal recipients at the ceremony
38. Med shot, medal recipients at the ceremony
39. Wide shot, medal recipients at the ceremony
 40. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ambassador Francisco
Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of
the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia
You have been sent here, Battle Group 18, like your predecessors
who liberated Mogadishu and the sector in which you operate. You
are continuing the effort to ensure that Somalia is stabilized and you
have done a very wonderful job.

41. Med shot, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, Maj.

Gen. Abreha Tesfay, at the ceremony
42. Close up shot, outgoing Battle Group 18
Commander, Col. Ronald Bigirwa listening
43. Med shot, SRCC and Former Deputy Special
Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Lydia Wanyoto clapping
44. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lt. Gen. Osman Noor
Soubagleh, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
Force Commander
You have done your duty and we have to recognize your effort and
that is why we have decorated you with those medals which, we
think is recognition enough.

45. Med shot, senior AMISOM military officers

attending the ceremony
46. Med shot, medal recipients
47. Close up shot, medal
48. Close up shot, Col. Ronald Bigirwa
49. Wide shot, group photo of the medal recipients
with senior AMISOM officials

African Union hails Uganda for its contribution in stabilizing

Somalia

Mogadishu, 5 April 2017 - The African Union (AU) has hailed the
Government of Uganda for its active role in restoring peace and
stability in Somalia.

The remarks were made by the Special Representative of the African

Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador
Francisco Madeira, at a colourful medal award ceremony held in
Mogadishu, Tuesday, for Ugandan soldiers.

The medals were awarded to Battle Group 18 of the Uganda

Peoples Defence Force serving under the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM) whose tour of duty in Somalia has some to an
end.
Ambassador Madeira thanked the Government of President
Museveni for showing the true spirit of Pan Africanism by ensuring
peace and stability is restored in Somalia.

Let me take this opportunity to thank your country and thank all
your colleagues from Uganda who started this Mission by sacrificing
their lives. Let me thank President Museveni for his vision of a
statesman, a vision of somebody who has acquired experience in
the struggle, in trying to unite his country, in stabilizing his own
country, in getting rid of dictators, exploiters and giving direction,
leadership and vision to his country, Ambassador Madeira who is
also the Head of Mission stated.

The medals parade, the first of its kind, was attended by the
AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh;
AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in Charge of Operations and
Planning, Maj. Gen. Abreha Tesfaye; Uganda Contingent Commander
Brig. Kayanja Muhanga; AMISOM Sector Commanders; senior
AMISOM officials and the outgoing Deputy Special Representative of
the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for
Somalia, Lydia Wanyoto.

The SRCC observed that Uganda was the first country to deploy in
Somalia in 2007, under AMISOM, adding that together with other
Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), made significant contribution to
peace and stability in Somalia, providing a conducive environment
not only for elections but also for social and economic development.

Uganda could have remained in Kampala and Luwero Triangle and

elsewhere but understood very well that as long as Somalia is what
it is or what it was in 2007, Uganda would not be safe. Indeed,
history has shown that in 2010 Uganda was attacked by an enemy
theoretically operating in Somalia. This understanding of Uganda
was shared by all of our Heads of State and they decided through
the Peace and Security Council that we need to come to Somalia
and help stabilize this country and contain the Al-Shabaab, SRCC
Madeira noted.

The AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh,

said UPDF Battle Group 18, which was deployed at the main base
camp, the sea port, state house, parliament and other key
installations, including several forward operating bases, had done a
tremendous job.

You have done your duty and we have to recognize your effort and
that is why we have decorated you with those medals which, we
think is recognition enough, Lt. Gen. Soubagleh noted.
Uganda Contingent Commander, Brig. Kayanja Muhanga, also hailed
the Battle Group, saying it had done a wonderful job, in degrading
the Al-Shabaab and thwarting attacks by the terror group.

Col. Ronald Bigirwa, Battle Group 18 Commander thanked the AU for

decorating his group with the medals in recognition of their
contribution in the stabilization process.

Ends