Uganda Begins Military Withdrawal From Somalia After 20 Years
Uganda has started withdrawing its military forces from Somalia due to funding shortages and a lack of international support for the African Union mission.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) began withdrawing troops from Somalia on October 30, 2026, ending nearly two decades of operations against Al-Shabaab militants. The process commenced with an initial contingent of 109 soldiers departing Mogadishu, as the military prepares to hand over positions in the Lower Shabelle region to Somali security forces.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced the move on October 29, citing critical funding shortages facing the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The withdrawal follows a 25 percent budget reduction from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). Furthermore, the United States has indicated it will not support the renewal of the mission's UN mandate in December 2026 and has agreed to a wind-down of UNSOS by January 2027.
While the UPDF recently deployed a new unit, Battle Group 48, on October 30, the Ugandan government has not released a final exit date or total troop numbers. The transition tests the ability of Somali forces to maintain stability and prevent Al-Shabaab from exploiting security gaps. President Yoweri Museveni previously discussed the security transition with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, though he maintained that the international community could pull out if it wished.
