Uganda States Its Troops Will Continue to Stay in Somalia.

Saturday 15 Aug 2025 {HMC} The Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs of Uganda, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, stated that Uganda is committed to continuing the presence of its troops in Somalia, amid strong concerns about the future of the African Union mission AUSSOM.

Uganda is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to the AUSSOM mission, with its forces having operated in Somalia for a long time, particularly in the fight against Al-Shabaab. New troops from Uganda have also joined the mission this year.

The statement from the Ugandan Minister of Defense comes at a time when AUSSOM is facing economic challenges and uncertainty regarding international support.

The meeting of the troop-contributing countries to AUSSOM in Kampala discussed how to secure sustainable funding, with Uganda calling for a restructuring of the funding mechanism for the mission.

The main concern is the future of the mission after the end of 2026, particularly regarding logistical and financial support for the troops.

Reports related to the Kampala meeting indicated that a clear plan to secure funding for AUSSOM has not yet been established, raising questions about the continuation of the mission.

Nevertheless, Uganda has expressed its desire for its troops to remain in Somalia, as its AUSSOM forces continue to operate in several areas, and the Ugandan government has urged its troops to strengthen the security gains achieved in the areas they are stationed.

Uganda's presence is crucial for the security mission in Somalia, as the country has long been one of the backbones of the African Union operations in Somalia, from AMISOM to AUSSOM.

If AUSSOM's support becomes more challenging, the presence of Uganda and other troop-contributing countries could be vital in preventing Somalia from facing a security gap while the Somali government forces continue their fight against Al-Shabaab.

The post Uganda States Its Troops Will Continue to Stay in Somalia. appeared first on HMC Somalia News .