Report reaching the desk of Africa Today News, New York has it that a military court in Uganda has found two officers guilty of cowardice as Islamist fighters stormed an African Union base sometime in Somalia in May.
The Majors whose names were given as Zadock Abor and John Oluka ran away after they came under attack by al-Shabab in Bulo Marer, south of the capital Mogadishu.
According to officials, no fewer than 50 Ugandan soldiers were killed.
Africa Today News, New York understands that Uganda is part of the African Union force helping Somalia’s government fight al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
The attack on Bulo Marer was one of the deadliest for the African Union force, Atmis, since it launched a new offensive against al-Shabab last year.
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, criticised his military for its response.
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The Ugandan military court sitting in Mogadishu heard that the officers had been given warning of an impending attack but failed to act to deter it.
As al-Shabab gunmen stormed the base, they failed to rally their troops and instead ran away to another base.
Both officers have been dismissed from the army.
Four non-commissioned officers were also found guilty of failing to protect military equipment.
The 19,000-strong African Union force was sent to Somalia in 2007 and helped force al-Shabab out of many cities.
It is scheduled to transfer security responsibilities to Somalia’s government forces and leave the country next year.
However, the offensive against al-Shabab has stalled and the group still controls many rural parts of the country.
In another report, Uganda over the weekend revealed the apprehension of the head of a militia group accused of perpetrating the killing of two foreign tourists and their local guide during a honeymoon trip to a national park last month.
The army stated that he was the lone survivor of a nighttime military strike on Tuesday aimed at a faction of the notorious Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), resulting in the demise of six other fighters.
A British national, a South African, and their guide were killed in an attack during a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park on October 17.