Four members of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) were killed over the week-end amidst heavy fights with the Al-shabab militants in Somalia.

One of the dead has been identified as Lt. Col. Patrick Tibihwa a resident of Munkunyu Sub County in Kasese district.

Tibihwa the first high-ranked UPDF officer to be killed by insurgents in Somalia was a commanding officer of the 23 battalion.

It is alleged that he was hit by a stray bullet as he was patrolling the captured areas in Bodere district.

The UPDF Spokesperson confirms the incident and identifies other victims as Cpl Isabirye Abdallah of Masindi district, Lt. Lawrence Tugume from Kiruhura and Augustine Kuloba from Bududa district.

According to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Spokesperson Paddy Ankunda, the victims were killed in the mop-up of the captured areas adding that AMISOM has safeguarded Wadajir, Hoden, Dhenkenley and Bondere all parts of the capital Mugadishu

By Nabula Baluku