Uganda has started withdrawing its military forces from Somalia after nearly two decades of service in the East African nation. The initial group of 109 Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldiers departed from Mogadishu, following an announcement by the country’s military leadership.
Troop Reduction and Phased Exit
Uganda initially pioneered troop contributions to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia, which formed in 2007 to safeguard the transitional government against Islamist militant attacks. Army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba stated on social media last week that the pullback had commenced to transition security duties to Somali personnel, acknowledging two decades of significant sacrifice and bloodshed. The phased withdrawal is scheduled for completion in August 2027.
Despite the drawdown, Uganda will maintain a military presence in Somalia through a separate bilateral security agreement. Current estimates indicate that roughly 4,500 Ugandan personnel served under the African Union framework, while about 2,000 others operated via bilateral pacts.
Regional Security Context and Funding Challenges
Somalia has faced a severe and prolonged insurgency driven by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization, for over twenty years. Ugandan units previously spearheaded efforts to expel al-Shabab from Mogadishu and surrounding key municipalities, collaborating with the Somali National Army to regain strategic regions and protect government infrastructure.
Ugandan forces maintained their operations through subsequent African Union mandates, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, which aimed to progressively transfer security duties to local authorities. That mission transitioned into the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, tasked with bolstering Somali security institutions to assume full national responsibility.
The mission currently confronts funding uncertainties as United States and United Nations support plans scale down. A 12-month transition strategy is slated to commence in January, providing Somalia and the African Union an opportunity to secure alternative financial backing.
