Uganda begins phased withdrawal of troops from Somalia after nearly 20 years
Uganda has commenced the withdrawal of its troops from Somalia, bringing an end to nearly 20 years of military involvement in the Horn of Africa nation.
Uganda’s acting army spokesperson, Chris Magezi, said on Monday that the first batch of soldiers deployed under a bilateral arrangement had returned home, with additional troops expected to follow in the coming days.
He explained that the withdrawal would take place in phases, with all Ugandan forces, including those serving under the African Union (AU) mission, expected to leave Somalia by the end of 2027.
Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which was established in 2007 to protect the country’s transitional government against attacks by Islamist militants.
Reports indicate that an initial contingent of 109 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel departed Mogadishu on Friday, following an announcement by Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Last week, Kainerugaba announced that the withdrawal process had begun, adding that Uganda would transfer security responsibilities to Somali forces.
In a post on X, he said the decision followed two decades of sacrifices and that Uganda was handing over responsibility for the country’s security to its Somali counterparts.
Magezi said on Monday that the withdrawal would signal the end of Uganda’s military operations in Somalia, allowing the country to take full responsibility for its security.
The development follows a meeting last week between Somali President Sheikh Mohamud and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala.
The discussions focused on Somalia’s security situation, as well as trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Reports suggest that Mohamud appealed to Uganda to maintain its military presence in Somalia.
During the visit, Museveni urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against the insurgency led by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
An estimated 4,500 soldiers are currently serving in Somalia under the African Union mission, alongside approximately 2,000 troops deployed through bilateral agreements.
Somalia has endured a prolonged and deadly insurgency for more than two decades.
Since their arrival in 2007, Ugandan troops have played a significant role in pushing al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and several other major towns.
Working alongside the Somali National Army, they helped reclaim strategic territories and secure key government facilities.
Ugandan forces have served in successive African Union missions, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which was established to facilitate the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to Somali authorities.
ATMIS was replaced in 2025 by the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which seeks to strengthen the country’s security institutions and prepare its forces to assume full responsibility for national security.
However, AUSSOM’s future remains uncertain due to funding concerns, particularly amid plans to scale back financial support from the United States and the United Nations.
A 12-month transition programme is expected to begin in January, providing Somalia and the African Union with time to identify alternative funding sources.
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