‎Uganda Rejects Reports That Soldiers Were Killed in Somalia, Blaming Al-Shabaab Propaganda

Uganda's military has dismissed online reports that its soldiers were attacked and killed in Somalia. It says the claims are false and are being spread by the militant group Al-Shabaab. The denial, first highlighted by DW Africa, comes as Ugandan troops wind down a long deployment in the African Union mission.

The claim and the denial
The reports alleged that militants ambushed a convoy of Ugandan soldiers withdrawing from Somalia's Lower Shabelle region under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), killing between 10 and 11 of them.

On Friday, Dennis Katungi, deputy executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, told reporters in Kampala that the reports were false and were being circulated by Al-Shabaab.

He said the UPDF had investigated the claims and found them to be false. Uganda did not release any casualty figures, describing the claim as fabricated propaganda. The Nation reported that the denial aims to project strength and control over the narrative, countering Al-Shabaab's tendency to exaggerate battlefield successes.

Why the timing matters
The claims surfaced during a sensitive transition. Earlier in November, Uganda announced plans to begin a phased withdrawal from Somalia, ending nearly two decades of involvement.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Propaganda around a pullout can shape public opinion at home and in Somalia, and Al-Shabaab has long used battlefield claims to boost its image.

Why verification matters
Both sides have a history of disputed accounts. In 2018, the UPDF dismissed an Al-Shabaab claim that it killed 59 Ugandan troops in Lower Shabelle, with a spokesman urging the public not to fall for the propaganda.

But in 2023, after Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed 137 soldiers at a base in the same region, President Museveni confirmed that Ugandan soldiers were killed but gave no figures. So denials and claims both need independent checking. I found no independent confirmation either way for the latest alleged ambush.

The bigger risk
As Ugandan and other contingents draw down, security analysts worry about gaps in Somalia. One of the stories linked alongside the report notes that Somalia faces security risks as troop withdrawals accelerate amid funding shortfalls. One regional outlet noted that without clear information, speculation is exactly what Al-Shabaab wants.

What should follow
The UPDF and AUSSOM should publish verifiable updates on the withdrawal, including any incidents.

Media should treat unverified claims from any side carefully and cite sources.

Citizens should be wary of viral posts on military casualties until confirmed by credible outlets.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,
International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)
[email protected]
+233555275880

References
DW Africa post on UPDF's rejection of online reports (15 Nov 2026), as provided

Eastleigh Voice, "Uganda denies reports of attack on troops withdrawing from Somalia" (14 Nov 2026)

The Nation (Uganda), "Uganda Denies al-Shabaab Claims of Killed Soldiers in Somalia," citing Xinhua

News.az, "Uganda rejects al-Shabaab claims of military casualties"

Somali News (FTL Somalia), "A Week of Denials: Uganda and Türkiye Push Back Against False Somalia Security Claims"

allAfrica, "Uganda: Army Refutes Al-Shabaab Claims On UPDF Casualties" (2018)

The Independent (Uganda), "Museveni: 800 Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked UPDF base in Somalia"