ENTEBBE — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting peace, security and stability in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
The two leaders committed during bilateral talks held at State House, Entebbe, where they discussed regional security, state-building, governance reforms and ways of deepening the longstanding partnership between Uganda and Somalia.
President Mohamud commended Uganda for its continued support in Somalia’s peace and stabilisation efforts, particularly through the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) under regional peace support missions.
“We are grateful for the security support that Uganda has continued to extend to Somalia. We are in a much better position today than we were before, although challenges remain,” President Mohamud said.
The Somali leader also briefed President Museveni on his country’s ongoing political reforms, including efforts to restore universal suffrage after decades without direct elections.
According to President Mohamud, the reforms are intended to strengthen democratic governance and ensure that Somalia’s future is determined by its citizens.
President Museveni welcomed the progress and reaffirmed Uganda’s longstanding commitment to supporting Somalia’s journey towards lasting peace and development.
“For the last 19 years, we have stood with Somalia because we believe in supporting just causes and protecting innocent people. Our interest has always been to see Somalia become peaceful, stable and prosperous,” President Museveni said.
The President emphasised that durable peace depends on building strong national institutions, fostering national unity and promoting inclusive governance.
He added that Somalia has the potential to overcome its challenges through dialogue and greater national cohesion.
Drawing on Uganda’s own experience, President Museveni said the country’s stability and socio-economic progress had been achieved by strengthening institutions and placing national unity above sectarian interests.
He reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to continue working closely with Somalia in advancing peace, security and regional integration.
President Mohamud praised the enduring friendship between the two countries and pledged to expand cooperation with Uganda in pursuit of shared goals of peace, security and prosperity.
The two Heads of State also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among African countries in addressing regional security threats, combating instability and promoting sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.
Uganda has played a leading role in Somalia’s peace support efforts since deploying troops in 2007 under the African Union mission, with the UPDF remaining one of the key contributors to regional efforts aimed at stabilising the country and supporting the Somali government’s security institutions.