s 15 military officers over ‘sex crimes’
Uganda has suspended 15 of its senior military commanders over their conduct in Somalia, including allegations of
sexual exploitation, the army said.
The suspension on Thursday comes in the wake of a damning report by Human Rights Watch which has accused troops with the internationally funded African Union force in Somalia, AMISOM, of preying on vulnerable women and girls.
“We are doing a general appraisal on performance of the force,” Uganda’s defence and army spokesman Paddy Ankunda told the AFP news agency.
“It’s not sexual harassment alone,” he said, but added the concerns were “one aspect we are looking at”.
“Those are allegations. We are investigating. Until the investigations are completed that’s when we will know their involvement [in sexual abuse], but for now they are suspended,” he said.
The 22,000-strong AMISOM force comprises soldiers drawn from six nations, and has been fighting alongside Somali government troops against al-Shabab fighters since 2007
