Ugandan government has said it is planning to withdraw troops from Somalia by end of next year.
Speaking to BBC, Ugandan People Defense Forces chief General Katumba Wamala has confirmed the move.
General Wamala said his country has decided to withdraw its troops that are part of African Union peacekeeping troops since 2006 before December 2017.
He added that Somali National Army is expected to fill the gab after UPDF exit.
Uganda is the largest troops contributing country to the UN mandated African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM)
Analyst believe Kampala is not serious about the exit from Somalia but aims at turning down rhetoric among the international community following the arrest of soldiers in Somalia capital Mogadishu earlier this month while selling military supplies to civilians.