KAMPALA – Uganda will withdraw all its troops from Somalia by August 1, 2027, the country’s military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said, setting a specific date for an exit after nearly two decades of involvement in the country’s security operations.
“We are withdrawing completely from Somalia by the 1st of August 2027. They will not be UPDF in Somalia after that,” Kainerugaba said in a post on X on Friday, August 28, 2026.
It was not immediately clear whether the date announced by Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, had been formally approved by the Ugandan government.
Uganda has been one of the main contributors to African Union security operations in Somalia since 2007, helping Somali forces fight al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
The latest announcement comes less than a month after Uganda hosted an extraordinary summit of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
At the July 31, 2026, summit in Kampala, Uganda called for sustained international support for Somalia’s peace and security and backed efforts to secure sustainable financing for the mission.
That position highlights the uncertainty surrounding the future of AUSSOM, which is helping Somalia’s security forces take greater responsibility for the country’s security.
AUSSOM faces funding crisis
The future of the nearly 12,000-member AUSSOM mission has been put under pressure by a U.S. decision to stop supporting United Nations logistical and operational assistance to the African Union force from the start of 2027.
The United States notified the African Union in July that it would not fund the mission beyond Dec. 31, 2026, according to documents reviewed by People Daily.
AUSSOM relies heavily on U.N. support for essential services, including food, water, fuel, medical assistance and troop transportation.
The United States has said it will not oppose renewal of AUSSOM’s mandate but will reject continued U.N. logistical or operational support for the mission.
Washington has also criticised Somalia’s progress in taking responsibility for its own security after years of international assistance.
The funding decision has raised concerns within the African Union and among diplomats about the mission’s ability to continue operating without an alternative source of logistical and financial support.
The Institute for Security Studies said the U.S. decision could have serious consequences for AUSSOM because the mission depends on American funding for much of its logistical support.
Somalia seeks greater security responsibility
Somalia has been working to assume greater responsibility for its own security as international forces gradually reduce their role.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called for foreign troops to eventually leave Somalia, arguing that the country cannot indefinitely depend on international forces to protect its sovereignty.
“We should give the foreign troops a beautiful bouquet and send them home,” Mohamud said.
But the transition remains difficult as al-Shabaab continues to carry out attacks and operate in parts of southern and central Somalia.
AUSSOM replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in January 2025 and was established to support Somali security forces during the transition.
The prospect of a Ugandan withdrawal comes as the African Union, Somalia and troop-contributing countries seek ways to maintain the mission despite the funding crisis.
Kainerugaba makes further claims
In separate posts, Kainerugaba made a series of highly combative comments about his military record and Uganda’s response to perceived threats.
“I am a General because I have killed more than 100,000 soldiers in battle. I still want to kill more, especially in the RSF of Sudan,” he said.
He also invoked the Greek warrior Achilles while warning that Uganda would respond forcefully to threats.
