Uganda has started withdrawing its troops from Somalia, with the process expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed that the first group of troops under the phased withdrawal had already returned to Uganda. This move follows a decision by Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to end the country’s military deployment in Somalia.
Uganda first deployed troops to Somalia in March 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The deployment was in response to years of instability after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991. Ugandan troops played a central role in securing Mogadishu, protecting government institutions, and helping Somali forces regain control of territory from al-Shabaab.
The African Union mission later transitioned into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), before the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) took over in January 2025. Under AUSSOM’s agreed force allocation, Uganda was assigned 4,500 troops. The withdrawal of Ugandan troops will leave Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Egypt as the principal military contributors to the mission.
The withdrawal comes as AUSSOM faces financial pressure following a US decision to oppose continued United Nations logistical and operational support for the mission. In July 2026, Washington informed the African Union that it would not support the United Nations Support Office in Somalia beyond December 31, 2026. This decision has raised concerns about how the mission will sustain its operations if alternative funding and logistical arrangements are not secured.
Uganda’s departure does not mean that all African Union or United Nations personnel will leave Somalia. The remaining AUSSOM contributors are expected to continue their roles, although the mission’s ability to operate will depend partly on the outcome of the funding dispute. Somalia also hosts foreign forces operating under separate bilateral security arrangements, including Ethiopian and Kenyan troops.
The transition comes amid continuing concerns about the ability of Somali forces to maintain security as foreign troops leave. Al-Shabaab remains active in parts of the country. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reportedly asked Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to delay the withdrawal from some positions in the Lower Shabelle region, where Somali forces may face difficulties taking over security responsibilities.
Uganda’s departure will mark a significant change in Somalia’s security arrangements, placing greater responsibility on the Somali Armed Forces after nearly two decades of support from Ugandan troops. The withdrawal is expected to be completed by August 1, 2027, with the first 109 Ugandan soldiers reportedly leaving Mogadishu on October 30, 2026.
Key points
- The withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Somalia marks the end of a 20-year military deployment.
- The African Union mission in Somalia faces funding uncertainty following a US decision to oppose continued United Nations support.
- The transition may impact Somalia’s security arrangements, placing greater responsibility on the Somali Armed Forces.
