UPDF Begins Somalia Withdrawal as Uganda Sets 2027 Exit Deadline

What the report says

Uganda’s army has begun pulling some of its soldiers out of Somalia, with the first group of troops deployed under bilateral security arrangements already back in Uganda, according to the Nile Post. In a statement cited by the outlet, UPDF Acting Director of Defence Public Information Col. Chris Magezi said the phased withdrawal took effect immediately and that the soldiers under that arrangement would be home within days.

The army also said it plans to withdraw all Ugandan forces from Somalia by the end of 2027, including personnel serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). If completed, that would end nearly 20 years of Uganda’s military involvement in Somalia, where its forces have been part of efforts against the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The article places the decision in the broader context of changing security arrangements in Somalia. It notes that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has publicly argued that his country is ready to assume more responsibility for its own security and has called for African peacekeepers to leave. Uganda remains one of the key contributors to Somalia’s multinational security missions, but the reported withdrawal suggests a gradual shift toward Somali forces and other foreign partners taking a larger role.