Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement, with acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi saying the first group deployed through a bilateral arrangement had arrived back home and all forces, including those under the African Union mission, would exit by the end of 2027 in a phased withdrawal.
Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in 2007, established to help protect the country's transitional government from attacks by Islamist militants. Ugandan forces played a key role in driving al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and other major towns, fighting alongside the Somali National Army to recapture strategic territory and secure key government installations.
Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi said Monday the first group of troops deployed through a bilateral arrangement had already arrived back in Uganda, with others to follow in a few days' time. He said all forces, including those under the African Union mission, would exit by the end of 2027 in the phased withdrawal, marking the end of Uganda's operations in the Horn of Africa country. Somalia is expected to "assume full responsibility for security," Magezi said.
The withdrawal follows a meeting last week between Somali President Sheikh Mohamud and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala, which was planned to discuss Somalia's security situation, trade and economic ties. The Somali president reportedly sought to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence, although the outcome was not made public.
Army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba wrote on X: "As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of a lot of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers." In remarks during the Somali president's visit, Museveni urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against the al-Shabab militant insurgency.
An estimated 4,500 troops are in Somalia under the African Union mission, alongside about 2,000 deployed through bilateral arrangements. Somalia has been battling a prolonged insurgency led by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, for more than two decades. The current African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom), which replaced the transition mission Atmis in 2025, faces uncertainty over future funding amid plans to wind down US and UN support. A 12-month transition plan is due to begin in January, giving Somalia and the AU time to seek alternative sources of funding.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Ends Uganda's two-decade military commitment to Somalia, a key contributor to African Union forces fighting al-Shabab.
- Raises questions about Somali forces' ability to maintain security gains and contain the insurgency without Ugandan support.
- Uncertainty over future funding for the AU mission could affect regional stability as US and UN support winds down.
Background
Uganda first deployed troops to Somalia in 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) to protect the transitional government from al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group. Ugandan forces fought alongside the Somali National Army to recapture territory and secure key installations. The mission transitioned through the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) to the current African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom) in 2025.
Key Perspectives
Uganda: Says the withdrawal fulfills a promise and that security responsibilities are being handed over to Somali forces after 20 years of sacrifice.
Somalia: Reportedly sought to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence during President Mohamud's visit to Kampala, though the outcome of those talks was not disclosed.
What to Watch
- Whether the phased withdrawal through end of 2027 proceeds as scheduled and how the handover of security responsibilities unfolds.
- Availability of alternative funding for Aussom after US and UN support is wound down, with a 12-month transition plan beginning in January.
- The capacity of Somali security forces to hold territory and counter al-Shabab without Ugandan troops on the ground.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedUganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after two decades.BBC News: “Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country.”
- SupportedThe first group of troops deployed through a bilateral arrangement has returned to Uganda.BBC News: “the first group of troops deployed to Somalia through a bilateral arrangement had already arrived back home”
- SupportedAll Ugandan forces, including those under the African Union mission, are to leave by the end of 2027 in a phased withdrawal.BBC News: “He said all forces, including those under the African Union (AU) mission, would exit by the end of 2027 in the phased withdrawal.”
- SupportedUganda’s withdrawal will mark the end of its operations in the Horn of Africa country.BBC News: “On Monday, Magezi said this will mark the end of Uganda's operations in the Horn of Africa country”
- SupportedUganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in 2007.BBC News: “Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), which was established in 2007”
- SupportedMuhoozi Kainerugaba wrote on X: “As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of a lot of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers.”BBC News: “"As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of a lot of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers," he wrote on X.”
- SupportedThe withdrawal follows a meeting in Kampala last week between Somali President Sheikh Mohamud and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.BBC News: “The withdrawal comes after Somalia President Sheikh Mohamud met his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in a visit to Kampala last week.”
- SupportedThe meeting was planned to discuss Somalia’s security situation and trade and economic ties between the countries.BBC News: “The meeting was planned to discuss Somalia's security situation as well as trade and economic ties between the two countries.”
- SupportedThe Somali president reportedly sought to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence, but the outcome was not made public.BBC News: “The Somali president reportedly sought to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence in Somalia, although the outcome on this was not made public.”
- SupportedAn estimated 4,500 troops are in Somalia under the African Union mission, alongside about 2,000 deployed through bilateral arrangements.BBC News: “An estimated 4,500 troops are in Somalia under the Africa Union mission, alongside about 2,000 deployed through bilateral arrangements.”
- SupportedAussom replaced Atmis in 2025, and faces uncertainty over future funding amid plans to wind down US and UN support.BBC News: “It was replaced in 2025 by the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom)”
- SupportedA 12-month transition plan is due to begin in January, giving Somalia and the AU time to seek alternative funding.BBC News: “A 12-month transition plan is due to begin to in January, giving Somalia and the AU time to seek alternative sources of funding.”