UPDF Begins Historic Withdrawal from Somalia After Two Decades

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially started withdrawing its troops from Somalia, concluding nearly two decades of military involvement in the Horn of Africa. The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the development, noting that security is gradually being handed over to Somali forces.

The troop exit comes amidst mounting financial pressures and shifting diplomatic landscapes surrounding the African Union mission. Recent funding cuts from international partners and a decision by the United States against renewing the mission’s mandate in the same capacity have heavily impacted frontline operations.

Despite shrinking international resources, Ugandan leadership previously maintained that regional solidarity would prevail. President Yoweri Museveni emphasized during a July 2026 summit in Munyonyo that African nations possess the capacity to address security challenges independently, reflecting on Uganda’s historic deployment as a matter of principle and regional strategy.

Uganda made history in 2007 by becoming the first nation to deploy troops to Somalia under the original African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Over the last 19 years, the UPDF spearheaded efforts to liberate key territories from Al-Shabaab and support the gradual rebuilding of Somali security institutions.

For more details on this developing security transition, read the original report on the Daily Monitor.