UPDF Begins Withdrawal of Troops from Somalia

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has started withdrawing troops from Somalia under a bilateral security arrangement, marking the beginning of a phased exit from a country where Ugandan soldiers have served for nearly two decades. The first group of soldiers under the withdrawal operation has already returned to Uganda, with the complete withdrawal of troops deployed under the bilateral arrangement expected within the next few days.

In a statement issued on Monday, Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, said the drawdown had taken immediate effect. “The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has embarked on the drawdown of troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral arrangements with the Federal Government effective immediately. The first cohort of troops under the phased withdrawal operation has already arrived back in Uganda,” Magezi said.

However, the withdrawal will extend beyond the bilateral deployment. Magezi said the UPDF would gradually pull out all its remaining forces in Somalia, including troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), by the end of 2027. He said the move would mark the end of Uganda’s nearly 20-year peace enforcement and stabilisation operations in Somalia, allowing the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for the country’s security.

Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia in March 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which was later reconfigured into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) before being replaced by AUSSOM. Thousands of UPDF soldiers have served in the successive missions, fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group and supporting efforts to rebuild Somali state institutions.

At its peak, Uganda had more than 6,000 troops in Somalia, operating mainly in Sector One, which covered Mogadishu and parts of the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions. Magezi did not disclose the number of soldiers being withdrawn under the bilateral arrangement, saying further details would be communicated in due course. However, reports indicate that the first group of 109 UPDF soldiers left Mogadishu on Friday, following an announcement by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The withdrawal comes as the African Union mission faces funding and logistical challenges, with troop-contributing countries raising concerns over delayed reimbursements and shortfalls in support from international partners. The broader transition is intended to enable Somali security forces to progressively assume responsibility for national security, with the African Union’s current plan targeting December 2027 for the completion of the process.

There have also been reports of disagreements between Uganda and Turkey over their respective roles and engagements in Somalia, which sources say created friction around the bilateral deployment. However, the UPDF has not publicly identified these concerns as a reason for the withdrawal.