UPDF commences withdrawal of bilaterally deployed troops in Somalia
The statement, signed by acting Director Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi, said UPDF will gradually withdraw all its forces in Somalia, including those currently deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by the close of 2027.
Acting Director Defence Public Information Col. Chris Magezi. (File)
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The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has, with immediate effect, embarked on the drawdown of troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral arrangements with the Federal Government of Somalia.
"The first cohort of troops under the phased withdrawal operation have already arrived back in Uganda. The operation to withdraw troops deployed in Somalia under bilateral arrangements will be completed in the next few days," a statement from the UPDF said today (November 2).
The statement, signed by acting Director Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi, said UPDF will gradually withdraw all its forces in Somalia, including those currently deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by the close of 2027.
Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia in March 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), playing a pivotal role in stabilising the country against al-Shabaab insurgents.
Other key troop-contributing countries include Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Egypt and Burundi. As Somalia stabilised, the mission transitioned from AMISOM to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and now AUSSOM.
The development comes at the same time when UPDF on Friday (October 30) flagged off Battle Group 48 (BG XLVIII) for deployment under the AUSSOM following the completion of pre-deployment training at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre in Singo, Nakaseke District.
Senior and junior officers attended the flag-off ceremony. Uganda is the largest troop contributor under AUSSOM.
The Deputy Commander Land Force, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, urged the troops to maintain teamwork, discipline and commitment to ensure successful operations in the mission area.
He also cautioned the contingent against misconduct and urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, reminding them that their conduct would reflect on the UPDF.