KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s military leadership has announced plans to withdraw all Ugandan troops from Somalia by August 1, 2027, potentially bringing to an end nearly two decades of the country’s military participation in African Union-led security operations in the Horn of Africa nation.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, announced the timeline on Friday, August 28, saying the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) would no longer maintain troops in Somalia after the stated deadline. “We are withdrawing completely from Somalia by the 1st of August 2027,” Kainerugaba said in a public statement, adding that there would be no UPDF presence in Somalia after that date. The declaration provides the clearest timetable yet for Uganda’s proposed departure, although a broader formal government announcement confirming the implementation arrangements had not been publicly detailed at the time of the statement.
Uganda has played a significant role in international security operations in Somalia since 2007, when it became one of the earliest troop-contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia. Ugandan forces subsequently served under successive AU missions established to support Somali authorities, protect key infrastructure and assist national security forces in confronting al-Shabaab and other armed threats.
The latest mission, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), began operations in January 2025 as part of a gradual transition intended to give Somali security institutions greater responsibility for the country’s security. The African Union has continued to emphasize that Somalia requires international assistance during this process. In an earlier assessment of the transition, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said Somalia had made important gains with AU support but cautioned that the transition to AUSSOM “must not fail.”
Uganda’s proposed departure comes amid continuing concern over the financing and long-term sustainability of the AU operation. Earlier in 2026, Kainerugaba publicly raised the possibility of withdrawing Ugandan forces if persistent funding problems affecting the mission were not adequately addressed.
The financial challenges have also been acknowledged at the continental level. African Union leaders have repeatedly called for predictable and sustainable financing for AUSSOM while emphasizing the importance of strengthening Somali security institutions. The AU Commission has maintained that international cooperation remains important to the mission and Somalia’s broader stabilization efforts.
The announcement follows a July 31 extraordinary summit in Kampala involving leaders of countries contributing troops to AUSSOM, Somalia’s leadership and African Union officials. The meeting focused on the mission and the continuing international effort to support peace and security in Somalia.
A complete Ugandan withdrawal would represent a major change in the regional security framework surrounding Somalia. Over nearly two decades, Ugandan troops have formed an important component of AU deployments supporting Somali authorities against al-Shabaab and assisting efforts to stabilize areas affected by prolonged conflict.
The proposed August 2027 deadline also places greater attention on Somalia’s ability to expand the operational capacity of its own security forces. The African Union has emphasized that strengthening Somali forces remains central to a successful transition while maintaining that its member states will continue supporting the Somali government and people in efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
If implemented as announced, Uganda’s withdrawal would close one of the longest chapters of its overseas military involvement and mark an important stage in Somalia’s continuing transition toward greater national responsibility for its security.
