Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country, where its forces have supported efforts to combat Al-Shabaab militants.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the development on Monday, November 2, saying the first group of soldiers under the phased withdrawal had already returned home.
The military spokesman, Colonel Chris Magezi, said the withdrawal initially covers troops deployed under a bilateral security arrangement with the Somali government.
He said the operation involving the bilateral contingent would be completed within the next few days.
The UPDF also announced plans to gradually withdraw all its remaining forces in Somalia, including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), by the end of 2027.
“This will mark the end of Uganda’s enduring 20-year peace and stabilisation support operations in Somalia, permitting the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for security in the country,” Magezi said.
Uganda first deployed troops to Somalia in 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), becoming the first African country to contribute soldiers to the mission.
The deployment was aimed at supporting Somalia’s transitional government and helping it fight Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has carried out attacks against security forces and civilians.
Ugandan forces played a major role in efforts to push the insurgents out of Mogadishu and other strategic locations, alongside troops from other African countries.
Thousands of Ugandan soldiers remain deployed in Somalia under the African Union mission and bilateral arrangements, although the military has not disclosed the exact number involved in the current withdrawal.
The drawdown comes as Somalia continues to face attacks by Al-Shabaab, which retains a presence across parts of the country despite years of military operations against the group.
It also coincides with the closure of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia on October 31, after more than three decades of political support for the country.
While the Somali government views the changes as part of its transition towards taking greater responsibility for national security, opposition figures and analysts have expressed concerns over continuing insecurity and political disagreements.