Uganda begins troop pullout from Somalia after 20 years

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after two decades of fighting the militant group Al-Shabaab, which has so far eluded defeat.

A Kenya-registered aircraft chartered by Uganda took off from Mogadishu airport on Friday carrying 109 Ugandan soldiers, the first contingent to leave since army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced the plans on Thursday.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that he would withdraw part of his forces before Nov 15, rebuffing Mohamud’s plea to delay the drawdown. The Somali leader made a one-day visit to Uganda on Monday, Oct 26, but Museveni firmly rejected his request.

Ugandan forces, including those serving under AUSSOM and others deployed under a bilateral agreement, are stationed in the Lower Shabelle region, which is central to the security of the capital. The handover of forward operating bases (FoBs) to the Somali army is due to continue until Nov 4.

Uganda first deployed troops to Somalia in 2007 and helped drive Al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other major towns in southern Somalia. Its forces control key river-crossing towns in Lower Shabelle that are vital to Mogadishu’s security and to preventing Al-Shabaab infiltration and attacks on the city. It is unclear how their departure will affect the capital’s security, which authorities have in recent years touted as relatively peaceful and improving.

The departure of the first contingent came just after the UPDF chief, who is also Museveni’s son, announced on Thursday that Kampala had begun withdrawing and ending its 20-year presence on the front line against Al-Shabaab.

“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,” Kainerugaba said in a statement on X.