Uganda and Somalia have deepened their bilateral ties with the signing of three new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Security, Immigration, and Education, during the Second Uganda–Somalia Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) and Investment and Business Summit held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
The agreements, officials said, mark a new chapter in strengthening cooperation between the two nations, building on the outcomes of the inaugural JPC held in August 2022.
The MoU on Security was signed by Uganda’s Minister for Security, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, and Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, Hon. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail. The MoU on Immigration was signed between Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, and Hon. Ismail, while the MoU on Education was signed by Uganda’s State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, and Somalia’s Minister of Education, Hon. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir.
Representing Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Abdulkadir, conveyed warm greetings from the President of Somalia to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the people of Uganda.
“We extend our appreciation to Uganda for its unwavering support toward peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts through the UPDF,” Hon. Abdulkadir said. “Our partnership is rooted in mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared vision for regional peace and prosperity.”
He emphasised Somalia’s commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, investment, education, and agriculture, and to leveraging regional blocs like IGAD, the East African Community (EAC), and the African Union (AU) to promote sustainable development.
“We are committed to ensuring stability and prosperity in our region. The opportunities before us—especially in education and trade—are immense, and together, Uganda and Somalia can achieve shared growth,” he added.
In his opening remarks, Hon. John Mulimba, Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation, welcomed the Somali delegation and described the session as an important milestone in the two countries’ long-standing friendship.
“This second JPC underscores our collective determination to consolidate the progress achieved since our first meeting in 2022,” Mulimba said. “The agreements we’ve signed today will go a long way in enhancing trade, investment, the free movement of people, and the overall livelihoods of our citizens.”
He also commended Somalia for its admission to the East African Community, noting that the move opens new avenues for regional cooperation and economic integration.
“We count on Somalia’s active participation in accelerating the EAC integration agenda and in realising our shared aspirations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
The Joint Communiqué, signed by both delegations, outlined several directives and commitments, including: convening the JPC biennially and a midterm review annually to assess progress, finalizing MoUs in new areas such as Health, Refugee Management, Finance, Customs, Environment, and Quality Assurance, reviewing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to strengthen aviation links, operationalizing a Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council (JPIBC) to address non-tariff barriers and promote trade and tourism and implementing Uganda’s offer to train Somali diplomats, with a curriculum already shared during the session.
Hon. Mulimba underscored that Uganda and Somalia’s friendship is grounded in “shared sacrifices and mutual respect,” urging both nations to seize emerging opportunities for sustainable prosperity.
“Through platforms like this, our private sectors can transform opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, logistics, and ICT into tangible ventures that create jobs and shared growth,” he said.
The two sides agreed that the Third Session of the JPC and Investment and Business Forum will be hosted in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 2027.
The Uganda–Somalia partnership continues to play a central role in promoting regional stability, economic integration, and people-to-people cooperation across the Horn of Africa and the wider East African region.
