KAMPALA, Xinhua) — Ugandan military on Thursday denied claims that some of its soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were abducted by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab militants last Tuesday attacked an African Union military base in southern Somalia. Its spokesperson Abdiaziz Abu Muga claimed Wednesday they were holding Ugandan troops hostage after the attack.

“Al-Shabaab can’t claim to have any of our soldiers under their hostage. This is a pure lie and propaganda. AMISOM has reliably briefed us that they can account for all the soldiers,” Uganda’s army spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda told Xinhua by telephone.

Twelve Ugandan soldiers died in the attack, according to the army.

source: Xinhua