Museveni Reaffirms Uganda’s Support for Peace in Somalia

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated Uganda’s commitment to supporting Somalia in its ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. During bilateral talks on October 19, 2024, with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at State Lodge, Nakasero, President Museveni assured that Uganda would continue to play an active role in Somalia’s peace process.

“We stand ready to support Somalia on its path toward full peace and security,” Museveni stated, commending the Somali government and the African Union for their efforts in combating insecurity, particularly against the Al-Shabaab militant group. Museveni and President Mohamud praised the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali security forces for their contributions to stabilizing the country.

A communiqué from the meeting, read by Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo, emphasized the significance of ATMIS’s successor, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The two leaders discussed AUSSOM’s potential to build on the progress achieved and implement strategies that align with Somalia’s security needs. They urged the international community to provide the predictable and sustainable funding necessary to support this transition and to bolster the Somali Security Forces (SSFs).

Both presidents also hailed Somalia’s recent integration into the East African Community (EAC) and its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026. President Museveni lauded Somalia’s regional engagement, marking it as a positive step for broader East African integration and cooperation. “We congratulate Somalia on these achievements, which signal greater regional unity and opportunities for collaboration,” Museveni said. 

Meanwhile, during the same meeting, President Museveni and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud witnessed the signing of Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a key component of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between Uganda and Somalia. The agreement outlines the legal status of military personnel deployed by Uganda to assist in stabilizing Somalia.

The signing ceremony also highlighted the readiness of both nations to deepen cooperation in other areas, with Ministers expressing their preparedness to sign additional agreements on education, sports, and immigration management. The two leaders also directed their officials to convene the second session of the Joint Permanent Commission and hold an Investment and Business Summit to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen. Jeje Odongo and Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi signed the SOFA on behalf of their respective governments, marking another milestone in the partnership between the two countries.