UPDF begins Somalia troop withdrawal as Uganda prepares for end of 20-year mission

Uganda has begun withdrawing troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral arrangements with the Federal Government, marking the start of a phased drawdown of its military presence in the Horn of Africa country.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) said the withdrawal took effect immediately, with the first group of soldiers already returning home. The operation is expected to be completed within the next few days.

The announcement signals the beginning of a broader transition in Uganda’s military engagement in Somalia, where its forces have played a role in peace and stabilisation efforts for two decades.

According to the UPDF, the withdrawal will extend beyond troops serving under bilateral arrangements.

All Ugandan forces in Somalia, including those deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), are expected to be gradually withdrawn by the end of 2027.

The planned exit will mark the end of Uganda’s 20-year peace and stabilisation support operations in Somalia, paving the way for the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for the country’s security.

The development comes as Uganda continues to prepare troops for deployment under the African Union mission, underscoring the fact that the current drawdown of bilateral forces is part of a wider, phased process rather than an immediate end to all UPDF operations in Somalia.

Recently, the UPDF flagged off Battle Group 48 (BG XLVIII) for deployment under AUSSOM after the contingent completed nearly five months of pre-deployment training at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO-TC) in Singo, Nakaseke District.

The deployment preparations highlight the continued role of Ugandan troops in supporting the African Union mission as Somalia works towards taking over its security responsibilities.

At the flag-off ceremony, Deputy Commander Land Force Maj Gen Felix Busizoori urged the soldiers to maintain teamwork, discipline and commitment throughout their mission.

“Once you operate as a team, you will win as a team and come together,” he said.

Busizoori cautioned the troops against misconduct, reminding them that their behaviour would reflect on the UPDF and the country.

“Behave as if everyone is watching you,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining positive relations with local communities, saying this had contributed to the success of previous Ugandan missions.

The general further warned against the misuse of social media, saying unauthorised activity could compromise operational readiness and expose troops to security risks.

He reminded the contingent that unauthorised social media use was punishable under military rules.

IPSO-TC Commandant Col Moses Nabaasa urged the soldiers to uphold discipline, patriotism and the responsibilities associated with military service.

Referring to guidance from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Nabaasa emphasised the importance of understanding the purpose of military service and maintaining the values of the force.

He said the training had been conducted under the mission statement: “To Prepare this Contingent for a Pan-African Peace Support Mission.”

Nabaasa urged the troops to demonstrate teamwork, patriotism and Pan-Africanism during their deployment.

“Go for the mission as a Battle Group. You have trained as a team. Fight and win as a team, conduct yourselves with discipline and uphold the values of the UPDF at all times,” he said.

Battle Group 48 Commander Col Michael Opio Ochuka commended the UPDF leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the contingent in Somalia.

He also thanked the training centre’s commandant and instructors for preparing the troops for the mission, urging them to maintain high discipline and morale.

“Battle Group XLVIII has been very good, you have exhibited maximum discipline and morale throughout the training period of close to five months,” Ochuka said.

A changing security responsibility

Uganda’s planned withdrawal by the end of 2027 represents a significant milestone in its longstanding military engagement in Somalia. The stated objective is to allow Somali forces to take full responsibility for national security.

However, the continued preparation and deployment of contingents under AUSSOM show that the transition is being undertaken in phases.

For Uganda, the coming period will involve managing the drawdown of its forces while fulfilling its commitments under the African Union mission.

For Somalia, the eventual withdrawal of all Ugandan troops will place greater responsibility on its national forces to sustain security gains and protect the country.

The UPDF has not provided further details on the number of troops involved in the current bilateral withdrawal or the timetable for the subsequent withdrawal of forces serving under AUSSOM.

What is clear from the announcement is that Uganda’s two-decade military engagement in Somalia is approaching a defining moment, with the end of its peace and stabilisation operations scheduled for December 2027.