Uganda has appealed to the UN and the African Union (AU) for logistical supports as a battalion of its troops stands by for a peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda's minister of state for defense was quoted by Daily Monitor on Friday as saying logistics were not the responsibility of the Ugandan government alone, though the UN has not replied yet.

"There were procedural issues which we have to deal with before we deploy in Somalia. We would like other bodies like the UN and AU to give a hand. The AU has to be more involved because we shall deploy based on their mandate," she said.

James Mugume, permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry said Uganda needed money for its planned deployment in Somalia.

"We don't have money and we want the AU to mobilize resources and allowances which are not necessarily for our troops alone but for the whole African peacekeeping force. Being a poor country, it is difficult for us to use our own resources," he said.

It is not disclosed how much Uganda would need for the deployment but Army Spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye said the AU or UN would be mandated to finance the mission.

"The deploying country uses its resources in terms of equipment and personnel and then the body that gives the mandate pays the country," he said.

Uganda has mobilized at least 1,000 troops for the deployment in Somalia as peacekeepers following a UN endorsement last month.

However, the final approval awaits the country's parliament which is expected to resume business next month.

Source: Xinhua