KAMPALA Uganda: 02 November 2026— The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially commenced an immediate drawdown of its troops stationed in Somalia under bilateral agreements with the Federal Government of Somalia.
According to a press statement released on Monday, November 2, 2026, by Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information (DDPI) for the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the initial phase of the withdrawal is already underway. The first cohort of bilaterally deployed troops has safely returned to Uganda, with the remaining bilateral drawdown scheduled for completion within the next few days.
Transition Plan Towards 2027
This bilateral withdrawal serves as the precursor to a wider, phased exit plan for all Ugandan military personnel operating in Somalia. The UPDF announced that it will gradually recall all remaining forces—including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)—by the end of 2027.
The targeted 2027 completion date will mark the conclusion of Uganda’s landmark 20-year commitment to peacebuilding, counter-terrorism, and security stabilization operations in the Horn of Africa. The transition is intended to enable the Somali Armed Forces to fully assume primary responsibility for national defense and territorial security.
Context: High-Level Diplomatic Engagement
The announcement follows key high-level diplomatic exchanges between Kampala and Mogadishu. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently visited Uganda to consult with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
During bilateral security talks held in State House Entebbe, both heads of state discussed regional security dynamics, counter-insurgency strategies, and the timeline for transitioning security operations back to Somali national forces. The discussions highlighted the long-standing defense partnership between both nations while setting the stage for Somalia’s self-reliance as international security frameworks wind down.
Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia under the original African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2007 and has remained a cornerstone of security missions in the region for nearly two decades.
