Uganda begins troop withdrawal from Somalia

Uganda has commenced the withdrawal of troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral security arrangements, with the first batch of soldiers already returning home.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces disclosed this in a press statement issued in Kampala on Monday, November 2, 2026, and signed by the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi.

“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has embarked on the drawdown of troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral arrangements with the Federal Government effective immediately,” the statement also shared on X said.

It added that “the first cohort of troops under the phased withdrawal operation have already arrived back in Uganda.”

The UPDF said the operation involving troops deployed under the bilateral arrangements “will be completed in the next few days.”

The military also announced plans to withdraw all its forces from Somalia, including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, by the end of 2027.

“The UPDF will gradually withdraw all its forces in Somalia, including those currently deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by the close of 2027,” the statement said.

It added that the move “will mark the end of Uganda’s enduring 20-year peace and stabilization support operations in Somalia, permitting the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for security in the country.”

PUNCH Online reports that according to Uganda’s defence body, the nation was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in March 2007.

The deployment was part of efforts to support the Somali government in its fight against the al-Shabaab militant group, which has waged an insurgency against the government for nearly two decades.

AMISOM was replaced by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in April 2022 and later by AUSSOM in January 2025.

Tosin Oyediran

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.