The Government of Uganda has announced plans to rapidly withdraw its troops from Somalia, ending nearly two decades of continuous deployment in support of international peace operations.

The announcement was made by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba—also the son of President Yoweri Museveni—who stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Ugandan forces would be pulled out of Somalia with immediate effect.

Uganda is currently the largest troop-contributing country to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) last year. Ugandan troops have played a central role in counterinsurgency operations and stabilization efforts since their initial deployment in 2007.

The development comes at a time of growing uncertainty over the mission’s long-term sustainability. AUSSOM leadership has repeatedly warned that the operation could face significant constraints in the absence of predictable and sustained financing.

Sources indicate that key meetings scheduled to discuss funding arrangements for AUSSOM have been postponed, heightening concerns about the future of financial support for the mission and the potential impact on security gains made in recent years.

It remains unclear whether Uganda’s withdrawal will be phased or total, or how the move may affect broader regional and international security efforts in Somalia.