Uganda begins phased troop withdrawal from Somalia amid handover to Somali forces

Uganda has begun withdrawing troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement, with the first contingent already back home and more departures expected in the coming days. The phased exit is due to continue until the end of 2027, according to Uganda's acting army spokesperson, Chris Magezi. The move affects Uganda's long-running role in Somalia's security effort, where it has been a major troop contributor since 2007.

Magezi said the first group of troops deployed through a bilateral arrangement had already returned to Uganda, while other forces would follow. He said all forces, including those under the African Union mission, would leave by the end of 2027. Uganda's army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said last week that the withdrawal had started and that security responsibilities would be handed over to Somali forces.

In a post on X, he said Uganda was handing over security to its Somali counterparts after 20 years of sacrifice. The withdrawal comes after Somalia President Sheikh Mohamud met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala last week. The meeting was intended to discuss Somalia's security situation as well as trade and economic ties between the two countries.

According to the report, the Somali president sought to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence. Museveni, meanwhile, urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against the al-Shabab insurgency, which is linked to al-Qaeda. Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia in 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as Amisom.

That mission was created to help protect Somalia's transitional government from attacks by Islamist militants. Ugandan forces later played a central role in pushing al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and other major towns, and in securing key government installations alongside the Somali National Army. The country continued its military role through later African Union missions, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, before the current African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia began in 2025.

The change matters because Uganda has been one of the most important contributors to Somalia's security architecture for almost 20 years. Its departure, even if gradual, raises questions about how Somalia and its partners will manage the transition while al-Shabab remains active. The report says Somalia is expected to assume full responsibility for security, but it is not yet clear how quickly that handover can be completed in practice.

The total foreign military presence in Somalia includes an estimated 4,500 troops under the African Union mission and about 2,000 deployed through bilateral arrangements. That means Uganda's withdrawal changes the composition of the foreign presence rather than ending it outright. What remains unclear is how the phased exit will be sequenced on the ground, and how Somali forces will absorb the responsibilities being transferred over the next two years.

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