By Zamzam Osman - Reporter
Somalia, 8 January 2026 The commander of Ugandan troops serving with the African Union’s stabilization mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has called for "maximum vigilance" as the mission begins the complex transition toward Somali-led security operations.
Brigadier General Jackson Kayanja issued the directive during a high-level operational readiness meeting at Sector One Headquarters in Mogadishu on Tuesday.
General Kayanja emphasized that discipline, teamwork, and transparency are the "critical pillars" required for operational effectiveness during the new phase.
Sector One Deputy Commander Colonel Francis Obita Aragamoi, urged soldiers to uphold professionalism in their efforts to secure Somalia.
Kayanja took over the command of the AUSSOM Ugandan Contingent, last year, from Brigadier General Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga who completed his tour of duty.
The high-level meeting was also attended by senior Uganda Peoples' Defence Force (UPDF) officers, signaling a comprehensive review of the contingent’s defensive posture for the first quarter of 2026.
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UPDF form the backbone of Sector One, a critical zone responsible for securing the capital, Mogadishu, the international airport, and key government installations—areas that remain high-priority targets for Al-Shabaab militants.
The transfer of security responsibility comes at a sensitive time as AUSSOM works to professionalize Somali security forces while maintaining a defensive perimeter around the country's economic and political heart.
AUSSOM was authorized by the UN Security Council to replace ATMIS with a focus on helping Somali security forces build long-term local institutional capacity.
Under the current mandate, which runs through 2026, the mission is tasked with gradually handing over tactical control to the Somali National Army (SNA).
