Uganda starts pulling its troops out of Somalia after nearly 20 years

Soldiers in the first contingent

109 soldiers

A first contingent of 109 Ugandan soldiers left the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, according to reports, after an announcement by Uganda's army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of a lot of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers.

— Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's army chief

What's next

The withdrawal is being done in phases and should end in August 2027. Ugandan troops deployed under a separate bilateral arrangement will stay in Somalia.

Uganda was the first African country to send troops to Somalia, in 2007, and helped drive the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and other major towns.