MOGADISHU, Somalia — August 20, 2026 — Growing uncertainty over funding for African Union troops in Somalia has renewed concerns about the security of Mogadishu and other strategic locations, although Uganda says its forces will remain in the country despite questions surrounding the future of the AU mission.

Uganda has approximately 4,500 soldiers serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. Military sources have also reported that Kampala maintains about 2,000 additional troops under a separate bilateral arrangement with the Somali government.

The Ugandan contingent supports Somali security forces and protects important infrastructure and supply routes. Its responsibilities include strategically sensitive areas in Mogadishu and parts of southern Somalia.

The fortified Halane compound, located near Aden Adde International Airport, hosts African Union and United Nations offices, foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations. Security around the compound and the airport remains central to the stability of the Somali capital.

Claims have circulated that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is increasingly frustrated by Somalia’s political divisions and the lack of sustainable funding for foreign troops. However, neither Museveni’s office nor the Ugandan military has publicly announced plans for an immediate withdrawal.

Uganda has instead said that its forces will maintain a presence in Somalia even if the current African Union arrangement changes. The statement has eased immediate fears of a sudden departure but has not resolved questions about how continued operations would be financed and organised.

AUSSOM faces financial pressure

AUSSOM relies heavily on international assistance to provide food, fuel, transportation, medical care and other operational support to its forces.

The United States has decided to stop funding the United Nations logistical support system for AUSSOM from next year, a move that could place the mission’s future at risk unless other donors provide alternative financing. The UN Support Office in Somalia currently supplies essential logistical assistance to the mission.

The African Union has repeatedly warned that the Somalia mission requires predictable, adequate and sustainable financing. At an AUSSOM summit in Kampala on July 31, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called for stronger cooperation with international partners to secure long-term financial support. The African Union said⁠ the mission remains central to Somalia’s stabilisation and state-building efforts.

The funding gap has raised questions about troop allowances, logistical supplies and the ability of contingents to maintain operations across their assigned sectors. No official announcement has confirmed that payments to Uganda’s troops have stopped completely.

Political divisions add to uncertainty

The financial crisis comes as Somalia faces persistent disagreements between the federal government and some political leaders and federal member states.

Critics of Villa Somalia accuse the federal administration of concentrating on domestic political disputes while Al-Shabaab continues to threaten government-controlled areas. The Somali government says it remains committed to national security, state-building and military operations against the armed group.

Museveni has previously called for greater mobilisation by Somalis in the campaign against Al-Shabaab. Uganda has also urged Somali political actors to address their differences and strengthen national unity.

At the July summit in Kampala, regional leaders discussed the political and security situation as well as the future of AUSSOM. The AU reaffirmed its support for the Somali government while encouraging greater cooperation between Mogadishu and the federal member states.

There has been no official confirmation that disagreements between Museveni and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will lead to changes in Uganda’s deployment.

Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union mission in March 2007. It has since remained one of the largest contributors to successive missions supporting the Somali government against Al-Shabaab.

AUSSOM replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in January 2025. The mission is mandated to help Somali forces weaken Al-Shabaab, protect population centres and critical infrastructure, and support the gradual transfer of full security responsibility to Somalia.

The mission’s military component has been planned around a phased reduction of personnel, with the final withdrawal envisaged by December 2029, subject to security assessments. AUSSOM says⁠ its troops must remain politically neutral during domestic disputes and prioritise civilian protection.

Ugandan soldiers have operated in some of Somalia’s most contested areas and along important supply routes. Their departure without an organised transition could leave security gaps that Somali forces or other international contingents would need to fill.

The coming weeks are expected to bring further discussions between Uganda, Somalia, the African Union and international donors over the mission’s future.

There is currently no independently verified evidence that Uganda is preparing an immediate withdrawal or that major cities will soon change hands. Such predictions remain speculative unless confirmed by military movements or official decisions.

The main issue is whether donors can establish a reliable funding mechanism before existing support is reduced. Failure to reach an agreement could force AUSSOM to scale back operations, reorganise deployments or seek new bilateral arrangements with the Somali government.

Uganda’s troops hold an important place in Somalia’s security system. Any abrupt reduction could affect Mogadishu’s airport zone, Halane, supply routes and towns where AUSSOM supports Somali forces. A planned transition would reduce the danger of security gaps, while a sudden funding-driven change could give Al-Shabaab opportunities to increase pressure.

The crisis also places greater responsibility on Somalia’s political leaders. Continued disputes between Mogadishu and federal member states could make coordinated security planning more difficult at a time when international financial support is declining.