African Union Mission Celebrates Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding's Leadership as He Moves to New Role

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) paid tribute to Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding for his distinguished leadership and achievements throughout his time as the Force Commander.

As he prepares to leave ATMIS for his new appointment as the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in Uganda, a ceremonial event was held in Mogadishu to honor his contributions on Monday, April 1.

At the farewell ceremony, the African Union's Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Sivuyile Bam, praised Lt. Gen. Okiding for his effective guidance of the multinational peacekeeping effort. Bam highlighted Okiding's impending return to Kampala, expressing eagerness for future collaboration and a commitment to advancing Okiding's legacy within the mission.

“Uganda has gained from our loss. As you return to Kampala, we look forward to working with you wherever you are. And we promise that we will continue with your legacy and do the work that is expected of us,” said Bam.

The event saw the attendance of top ATMIS military officials, including Maj. Gen Marius Ngendabanka, the Deputy Force Commander responsible for Operations and Plans, and Maj. Gen. Peter Muteti, overseeing Support and Logistics. Maj. Gen Ngendabanka lauded Lt. Gen. Okiding for his role in leading the ATMIS military component, particularly during the challenging phase of reducing troop numbers and transitioning security responsibilities to Somali forces.

“We appreciate how he commanded the military component since his arrival on the mission. We highly appreciate his leadership. He promoted teamwork among Staff Officers at the ATMIS Force Headquarters and across all sectors,” said Maj. Gen.Ngendabanka.

Lt. Gen. Okiding, confident in the military's capability to continue fulfilling ATMIS's objectives during the transition, committed to supporting the mission from his new position in Uganda. He emphasized the importance of advocating for the operation, especially in enhancing its capabilities.

“My voice will now be heard about Somalia operations. We will fight for this operation, especially in the area of force enablers where we are still lagging. And as we continue to draw down, and the force shrinks, we need alternatives. So, I think I will be in a better position to advocate for our operations,” said Lt. Gen. Okiding.

During his tenure, which began in May 2023, Lt. Gen. Okiding successfully led the transfer of 13 Forward Operating Bases and security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces, marking significant milestones in the ATMIS drawdown phases completed in June and December 2023. Maj. Gen Ngendabanka will temporarily assume Lt. Gen. Okiding's military duties until a new Force Commander is appointed.