Uganda Begins Troop Withdrawal as Somalia Faces a Critical Security Test

Kampala (WDN) -Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly 20 years of military intervention, as frustration grows in Kampala over the country’s failure to achieve lasting stability despite years of military support and the loss of Ugandan soldiers’ lives.

Ugandan military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced the withdrawal in a post on X on October 29, saying Ugandan forces had begun transferring security responsibilities to Somali troops.

“As promised, we have begun withdrawing UPDF troops from Somalia. After 20 years of bloodshed and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers,” Muhoozi said.

He did not disclose how many troops would leave, which locations would be affected or the timetable for completing the withdrawal.

The announcement comes as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) faces funding shortages and uncertainty over international support. It also raises questions about whether Somalia’s security forces are prepared to assume greater responsibility as foreign troops leave.

Funding Pressures Deepen Uncertainty

The mission faces growing uncertainty over its long-term financing. In July, the United States indicated it would not support renewing the mission’s mandate when the UN Security Council considered the issue in December, according to the account provided.

Muhoozi also said during military meetings ahead of a Kampala summit in July that the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) had reduced its support by 25 per cent, affecting the operational capacity of deployed forces.

At the time, he urged regional military leaders to adapt to declining resources and develop a framework that would allow African countries to sustain the mission.

“These are difficult circumstances, but they also demand unity, innovation and firm resolve,” he told military chiefs from countries contributing troops to Somalia.

He added that the mission’s future and the preservation of gains made in Somalia would depend on the decisions taken by military leaders during this critical period.

Financial uncertainty presents a difficult choice for troop-contributing countries: maintaining deployments requires sustained resources, but withdrawing forces before Somali troops are ready could jeopardise security gains.

Somalia Under Pressure to Deliver Results

Uganda’s withdrawal places renewed pressure on Somalia’s government to demonstrate that its national forces can maintain security as foreign troops leave. The country continues to face threats from al-Shabaab, while political divisions and institutional weaknesses complicate efforts to build a unified and effective security system.

After nearly two decades of international military assistance, Somalia has yet to establish security forces capable of independently securing the country. The transition therefore tests whether years of external support have built sufficient national capacity to sustain operations without a prolonged foreign military presence.

A poorly coordinated withdrawal could create security gaps that armed groups may exploit. Preventing such a scenario will require adequate funding, effective command structures and closer coordination between federal authorities and regional administrations.

For Uganda and other troop-contributing countries, the priority is to ensure that the eventual transfer of responsibility produces a sustainable outcome rather than another cycle of international intervention. For Mogadishu, the immediate challenge is to demonstrate that its forces can protect the gains made and prevent renewed instability as external support changes.

Uganda’s withdrawal puts Somalia’s security forces to a critical test: whether they can contain al-Shabaab and maintain stability as foreign troops leave. After nearly two decades of international military support, Mogadishu must demonstrate that its forces can secure the country without indefinite reliance on foreign deployments.

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