By Temiteo Okwakol
Maj Patrick Opio Awany, brother of ruling NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, was killed in Somalia on Sunday, July 7, 2024. The convoy commander was struck by an Al Shabaab IED while traveling between Buulo Nagad and Ceel Wareego in Lower Shabelle, according to Deputy Defence Spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki. Several UPDF soldiers were injured in the attack and airlifted to a Level II hospital in Mogadishu.
Maj Awany, a member of the Motorised Infantry Brigade, died instantly. His convoy was transporting logistics when the attack occurred. Todwong mourned his brother on X, praising his dedication and bravery in protecting Uganda and serving in various conflict zones, including the Central African Republic, Eastern DRC Congo, and Somalia.
This incident highlights the fragile security situation in Somalia as African Union forces withdraw. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) handed over the Bariire Forward Operating Base in June 2024, part of a drawdown that reduced AU troops by 4,000. Al Shabaab’s continued presence underscores the challenges faced by Somali National Army (SNA) and remaining international forces.
Uganda, the first East African country to deploy troops under AMISOM in 2007, has suffered significant losses, with over 4,000 casualties documented since then. Maj Awany’s death is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by peacekeepers in Somalia.