Ugandan official confirmed on Tuesday that their first batch of some 300 troops arrived in Somalia, making Uganda the first African country to deploy peacekeeping force in the war-ravaged country since the ousting of Islamic militants late last year.

State Minister for Defense Ruth Nankabirwa told the press here that the 300 troops arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning aboard a plane.

"Finally we are in Mogadishu. Our troops left Uganda this morning and arrived in Somalia the same morning," said Nankabirwa, adding that the troops are being briefed.

The 300 troops were part of the 1,500-strong Ugandan peacekeeping force to be deployed in Somalia under the African Union Mission to Somalia.

Other African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, South Africa and Burundi, have promised to send peacekeepers to Somalia.

Nankabirwa said in addition to the 1,500 soldiers, there is an additional 105 soldiers who will remain in Uganda as reserve.

"Time may come when we need to upgrade the mandate from peacekeeping to peace enforcement which will require more troops. Therefore the reserve troops will be deployed in case there is a change of mandate," she said.

Source: Xinhua