Kampala — On February 21, 2007, I wrote: "The African Union (AU) mission to Somalia is likely DOA - Dead on Arrival - for reasons beyond the control of well-meaning African countries like Uganda and Burundi that have pledged troops to help stabilise the impoverished nation racked by 15 years of vicious factional warfare."

At the time, Ethiopian troops were exiting Somalia, and the AU had pledged to send in multinational troops from member nations to keep things under control between the various feuding factions. I argued that the mission would likely fail because only Uganda and Burundi had so far pledged their armies while bigger guns like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Sudan seemed to be foot-dragging on the issue of sending a multinational force to replace the Ethiopians.

Spending time with the AMISOM troops during which I have had lengthy conversations with personnel from the rank of private right through to Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha and his boss, UPDF Commander of Land Forces, General Katumba Wamala, has convinced me that my previous assessments are no longer valid.

There are several reasons for this change of heart. First, what I failed to take into consideration at the time of writing the article three years ago was that the unspoken message from lacklustre AU politicians for the AMISOM troops "to do everything wrong in order to fail" never reached the overall Force Commander, the soft-spoken philosopher soldier Major General Nathan Mugisha. It never reached the extremely shrewd, yet ever-smiling Uganda Contingent Commander Col. Michael Ondoga or, for that matter, the utterly focused and highly motivated unit commanders at the forward bases like Maj. David K. Matua and Maj. David Opeero.

From the ground up, and I have spoken to everybody I could possibly speak to, there is a keen understanding of the mission, and complete optimism that the work will be done. The job, in this case, includes securing an ever growing area of Mogadishu for Somali citizens who fervently want peace now, ensuring that the port and airports continue to work, and allowing those citizens that are now behind the AMISOM lines to begin the difficult task of rebuilding the ruined city. Indeed, I saw evidence of feverish reconstruction and renovation in AMISOM secured areas.

Secondly, what I have seen goes beyond good morale and camaraderie among the troops, but to their very core as decent human beings. For instance, the first class medical clinic run by the Uganda contingent has become the most reliable healthcare provider for thousands of Mogadishu residents, and beyond every month. I referred to it in previous articles as the Gate of Hope because that is exactly how the numerous Somali people who line outside the AMISOM gate on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday see it. To them, the AMISOM troops are not the enemies to be hated, but rather the heroes to be loved.

Furthermore, every precaution is taken to avoid civilian casualties. I saw this firsthand, at the Jubba Hotel unit base. Rather than rake the entire neighbourhood with gunfire, the AMISOM soldiers responded selectively, firing away from civilians that were barely 200 metres from the offending building where the firing originated. Civilians went about their business unperturbed by the deep growls of the guns.

Thirdly, although it is a running joke among the AMISOM troops that the best bargains are to be found in Bakara Market (currently under the control of the insurgents), I know that they consider the securing of the market and beyond as a critical piece in ridding Mogadishu of warring factions.

I am convinced that AMISOM has the skill, expertise and determination needed to secure the entire Mogadishu and finally ridding the city of the destructive factional battles that deter development.

What is however clear also is that additional troops are needed to hold the ground that has been gained as is the case now with areas around Oruba Hotel and Jubba Hotel. In those areas, peace and tranquility have replaced the daily bomb blasts and gunfire previously heard before AMISOM troops secured them.

What the Somali people need most is a stable environment in which to move forward, a theme echoed by Somali president Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed when I spoke to him a few days ago. Schools and hospitals must be refurbished immediately so that Somali children and citizens can begin to enjoy the peace that has eluded them for the better part of two decades. AMISOM is far from DOA-dead on arrival-it is very much alive.