The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) honoured Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding for his outstanding leadership and accomplishments during his tenure as the Force Commander, as he prepares to depart for his new role as the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in Uganda.
A ceremonial event took place in Mogadishu on Monday, April 1, to recognize Lt. Gen. Okiding’s contributions.
At the farewell gathering, Sivuyile Bam, the African Union’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, commended Lt. Gen. Okiding for effectively steering the multinational peacekeeping endeavour. Bam expressed anticipation for future collaboration with Okiding upon his return to Kampala, pledging to uphold his legacy within the mission.
“We recognize Uganda’s gain as we bid farewell to Lt. Gen. Okiding. We eagerly await future cooperation, promising to uphold your legacy and fulfill our responsibilities,” stated Bam.
The event was attended by key ATMIS military figures, including Maj. Gen Marius Ngendabanka, the Deputy Force Commander for Operations and Plans, and Maj. Gen. Peter Muteti, responsible for Support and Logistics. Maj. Gen. Ngendabanka commended Lt. Gen. Okiding for his leadership in guiding the ATMIS military component, particularly during the challenging phase of troop reduction and transitioning security responsibilities to Somali forces.
“We commend his command of the military component throughout his tenure. His leadership fostered teamwork among Staff Officers at the ATMIS Force Headquarters and across all sectors,” remarked Maj. Gen. Ngendabanka.
Expressing confidence in the military’s ability to uphold ATMIS objectives during the transition, Lt. Gen. Okiding pledged support from his new position in Uganda. He stressed the importance of advocating for the operation, particularly in enhancing its capabilities.
“I will continue to champion Somalia operations. We must focus on enhancing force enablers where improvements are needed. As we downsize the force, we must explore alternatives. Thus, I believe I can advocate effectively for our operations,” affirmed Lt. Gen. Okiding.
During his tenure, which commenced in May 2023, Lt. Gen. Okiding successfully oversaw 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.
