By Frank Kamuntu
Al Shabaab militants on Friday attacked a Ugandan military base with peacekeepers in Somalia.
According to Reuters, the militants targeted a base belonging to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Bulamarer, 130 km (80 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) deputy spokesman Deo Akiiki confirmed the incident saying official communication will be made.
“There was an attack this morning at our base… by elements of al Shabaab but we are waiting for official communication from ATMIS headquarters,” he said.
According to ATMIS, Al Shabaab had hit the base using cars and suicide bombers.
Militants’ weapons were destroyed after al-Shabaab were reinforced with the mission and its allies.
Al Shabaab said in a statement that it had carried out suicide bomb attacks and killed 137 soldiers at the base.
Residents of the town said they heard the sound of huge explosions and heavy weapons.
“Now we see Al Shabaab in the town. We cannot know how many died. We are not hearing any shots from ATMIS and government now,” local resident Rukia Farah said.
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