# Somalia and Uganda

> Uganda and Somalia from the 1972 Mogadishu Agreement to 2026: AU troops since 2007, the Joint Permanent Commission, trade, students and Somaliland.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/relations/uganda/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## How do Somalia and Uganda relate today?

Uganda is Somalia's longest-serving security partner. Its troops were the first African Union (AU) peacekeepers to land in Mogadishu, on 6 March 2007 ([Al Jazeera, 8 March 2007](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/3/8/au-troops-under-attack-in-mogadishu)). In late October 2026 Uganda began withdrawing its about 4,500 AU troops in phases to August 2027, while about 2,000 troops under a bilateral arrangement stay ([BBC via Graphic Online, 2 November 2026](https://www.graphic.com.gh/international/international-news/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia-after-20-years.html)).

On 26 October 2026 President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe ([State House Uganda via APO, 27 October 2026](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)). Hassan Sheikh asked for Ugandan troops to stay longer, and Museveni welcomed Somalia's permission for a Ugandan coffee warehouse in Somalia (same source).

Both countries run embassies in each other's capitals. Uganda opened a new embassy chancery in Mogadishu on 9 October 2023 ([Nexus Media, October 2023](https://nexusmedia.ug/?p=5422)). Somalia's ambassador told the October 2026 meeting that about 8,000 Somalis run businesses in Uganda and about 15,000 study at Ugandan universities ([State House Uganda via APO, 2026](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)).

## When did contact begin?

Somalis lived in Uganda in colonial times. Many came as "Somali Scouts" with the British army, stayed, took Ugandan citizenship and worked in the meat trade ([The Observer, September 2009, via Hiiraan Online](https://hiiraan.com/news2/2009/sept/devastated_at_home_somali_businesses_thrive_in_uganda.aspx)). Thousands left under Idi Amin and returned after 1986 (same source).

In September 1972 exiles backed by [Tanzania](/en/diaspora/tanzania/) invaded Uganda, and the two neighbours came close to war. Somalia's president, Siad Barre, mediated, and the two sides signed the Mogadishu Agreement in October 1972 ([Daily Monitor, "Somalia saves Uganda and Tanzania from going to war"](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/somalia-saves-uganda-and-tanzania-from-going-to-war-1680344)). Amin later named a Kampala road Siad Barre Avenue ([Daily Monitor, "Somalia's Siad Barre saves Amin from Tanzanians"](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/somalia-s-siad-barre-saves-amin-from-tanzanians-1726760)).

Siad Barre chaired the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) after hosting its 1974 summit in Mogadishu ([Geeska, "Disunited continent: Mogadishu '74 revisited"](https://www.geeska.com/en/disunited-continent-mogadishu-74-revisited)). Amin took the chair from him at the Kampala summit of 28 July to 1 August 1975 ([Daily Monitor, "AU: What has changed since 1975?"](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/au-what-has-changed-since-1975--1475550)). See [Siad Barre era 1969–1991](/en/history/siad-barre-era-1969-1991/).

## Who are the ambassadors and envoys?

### Uganda's envoys to Somalia

- **Prof. Sam Tulya-Muhika**: presented credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at [Villa Somalia](/en/institutions/president-and-council-of-ministers/) in May 2016 ([Radio Dalsan, 26 May 2016](https://radiodalsan.com/?p=35267)). He was still ambassador in October 2026 ([State House Uganda via APO, 2026](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)).
- **Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Nathan K. Mugisha**: deputy ambassador in Mogadishu in July 2025 ([UPDF, 3 July 2025](https://www.updf.go.ug/?p=71641)).
- **Brig. Gen. Francis Chemonges**: Uganda's defence attaché to Somalia in July 2025 ([UPDF, 3 July 2025](https://www.updf.go.ug/?p=71641)).

### Somalia's envoys to Uganda

- **Ali Mohamed Mohamud**: Somalia's ambassador in Kampala during the August 2022 state visit ([Diplomatic Times, 10 August 2022](https://diplomatictimes.net/2022/08/10/somalia-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-visits-uganda-leader-museveni/)).
- **Fardowsa Mohamed Qanyare**: gave a copy of her credentials to State Minister Henry Oryem Okello in Kampala on 28 November 2024 ([Somali Foreign Ministry, 28 November 2024](https://web.mfa.gov.so/somali-ambassador-to-uganda-presents-credentials-to-ugandas-minister-of-state-for-foreign-affairs/)).

## Who built the tie?

- **Siad Barre**: Somali president who mediated the 1972 Mogadishu Agreement between Uganda and Tanzania ([Daily Monitor](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/somalia-saves-uganda-and-tanzania-from-going-to-war-1680344)).
- **Yoweri Museveni**: Ugandan president who sent troops in 2007 and hosted Hassan Sheikh in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 ([Garowe Online, 2025](https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somali-president-arrives-in-uganda-for-talks-on-security-economic-ties)).
- **Hassan Sheikh Mohamud**: Somali president who made at least five visits to Uganda from 2022 to 2026 ([State House Uganda via APO, 2026](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)).
- **Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Vincent Ssempijja**: Somali and Ugandan defence ministers who adopted the defence cooperation memorandum on 5 August 2022 ([UPDF, 5 August 2022](https://www.updf.go.ug/bilateral-relations/uganda-and-somalia-adopt-memorandum-of-understanding-on-defence-cooperation/amp/)).
- **Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu and Brig. Gen. Odowaa Yusuf Rageh**: army officers who exchanged the signed draft of that memorandum (same source).
- **John Mulimba and Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir**: led the Ugandan and Somali sides at the second Joint Permanent Commission in Kampala, 7–8 October 2025 ([Nexus Media, October 2025](https://nexusmedia.ug/?p=24577)).
- **Henry Tumukunde and Abdisalam Abdi Ali**: signed the Mogadishu Declaration on 22 October 2026 ([Somali Foreign Ministry, 22 October 2026](https://web.mfa.gov.so/?p=9242)).
- **Richard Kabonero and Anne Babinaga**: Ugandan foreign ministry officials who led the 35-member delegation to Mogadishu in October 2026 ([Dawan Africa, 20 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-welcomes-35-member-uganda-delegation-ahead-of-trade-talks)).
- **Muhoozi Kainerugaba**: Ugandan army chief who announced the troop withdrawal in October 2026 ([BBC via Graphic Online](https://www.graphic.com.gh/international/international-news/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia-after-20-years.html)).
- **Amina Moghe Hersi**: Somali-Kenyan businesswoman in Kampala, a leading cement and hardware distributor and Woman Investor of the Year in 2008 ([The Observer, 2009, via Hiiraan Online](https://hiiraan.com/news2/2009/sept/devastated_at_home_somali_businesses_thrive_in_uganda.aspx)). See [Amina Moghe Hersi](/en/people/amina-moghe-hersi/).

## What agreements have they signed?

- **October 1972**: Mogadishu Agreement between Uganda and Tanzania, brokered by Somalia ([Daily Monitor](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/somalia-saves-uganda-and-tanzania-from-going-to-war-1680344)).
- **5 August 2022**: memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, adopted by the two defence ministers at Munyonyo ([UPDF](https://www.updf.go.ug/bilateral-relations/uganda-and-somalia-adopt-memorandum-of-understanding-on-defence-cooperation/amp/)).
- **August 2022**: joint communiqué of the first Joint Permanent Commission, signed before both presidents ([Diplomatic Times, 10 August 2022](https://diplomatictimes.net/2022/08/10/somalia-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-visits-uganda-leader-museveni/)). Five memoranda came out of it, on diplomatic consultations, defence, trade and investment promotion ([Nexus Media, 2025](https://nexusmedia.ug/?p=24577)).
- **7–8 October 2025**: three memoranda on immigration, education and sports, and security, and a new Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council ([Nexus Media, 2025](https://nexusmedia.ug/?p=24577)).
- **22 October 2026**: Mogadishu Declaration on trade and investment, after labour and civil aviation agreements ([Somali Foreign Ministry](https://web.mfa.gov.so/?p=9242)).

## Which leaders have visited?

- **8–9 August 2022**: Hassan Sheikh in Kampala; he spoke at the Somalia–Uganda Investment and Business Summit ([Diplomatic Times](https://diplomatictimes.net/2022/08/10/somalia-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-visits-uganda-leader-museveni/)).
- **19 October 2024**: Hassan Sheikh met Museveni at State Lodge Nakasero ([Garowe Online](https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somali-president-arrives-in-uganda-for-talks-on-security-economic-ties)).
- **January 2025**: Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi visited the Somali embassy in Kampala during an AU summit ([Somali Foreign Ministry, 8 January 2025](https://web.mfa.gov.so/?p=4830)).
- **5 April 2025**: Hassan Sheikh met Museveni in Kampala ([Somali Foreign Ministry, 5 April 2025](https://web.mfa.gov.so/?p=6005)).
- **8 October 2025**: Internal Security Minister Abdullahi [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Ismail [Fartaag](/en/institutions/ministry-of-internal-security/) met Uganda's security minister Jim Muhwezi in Kampala ([Radio Dalsan via AllAfrica, 8 October 2025](https://allafrica.com/stories/202510090062.html)).
- **31 July 2026**: Hassan Sheikh at the AUSSOM troop contributors' summit in Kampala ([Dawan Africa, 1 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/explainer-what-did-the-kampala-aussom-summit-decide-and-why-did-somalia-oppose-part-of-the-communique)).
- **21–22 October 2026**: Uganda's labour minister Henry Tumukunde in Mogadishu for the commission review ([Somali Foreign Ministry](https://web.mfa.gov.so/?p=9233)).
- **26 October 2026**: Hassan Sheikh at State House Entebbe ([State House Uganda via APO](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)).

## How much do they trade?

Recorded trade is small. Uganda reported exports to Somalia of $6.78 million in 2024, up from $2.75 million in 2023 ([UN Comtrade, Uganda–Somalia, 2024](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=800&partnerCode=706&period=2024&flowCode=X,M&cmdCode=TOTAL)). It recorded imports from Somalia of about $3,000 in 2024 and $180,000 in 2023 (same source; [2023](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=800&partnerCode=706&period=2023&flowCode=X,M&cmdCode=TOTAL)).

The main Ugandan exports to Somalia in 2024 ([UN Comtrade, by chapter](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=800&partnerCode=706&period=2024&flowCode=X&cmdCode=AG2)):

- tobacco, $2.55 million
- aircraft and parts, $1.20 million
- wood, $0.53 million
- machinery and electrical goods, $0.86 million

Somali firms [Dahabshiil](/en/economy/hawala-and-money-transfer-companies/), Somtel and eDahab took part in the first Uganda–Somalia business summit in Kampala, 9–10 August 2022 ([The Star, 9 August 2022](https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2022-08-09-somali-uganda-hold-first-ever-business-summit-together)). Uganda was the largest source of foreign workers in Somalia in 2023, with 1,335 ([Somalia National Bureau of Statistics, 2024](https://nbs.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Migration-Statistics-Report-2024.pdf)). Direct flights between Entebbe and Mogadishu began in 2013 ([IPS, 31 March 2014](https://www.ipsnews.net/?p=133323)).

For Somali firms in Uganda, see [Somali business in Uganda](/en/economy/somali-business-in-uganda/).

## How much aid and money has gone in?

Uganda's main contribution has been troops, not cash aid. UN OCHA's Financial Tracking Service lists no humanitarian grants from the Ugandan government to Somalia for the years checked, 2006 to 2025 ([OCHA FTS, Somalia, 2011](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2011&groupby=organization)). Uganda trains Somali students at its universities, about 15,000 in 2026 ([State House Uganda via APO](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-urges-somalia-to-unite-against-alshabaab-boost-coffee-trade-with-uganda?lang=en)).

## What about security?

Ugandan troops landed in Mogadishu on 6 March 2007 under mortar fire ([Al Jazeera, 8 March 2007](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/3/8/au-troops-under-attack-in-mogadishu)). [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/), listed as a terrorist group by the United States since 2008 ([CFR](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/al-shabaab)), bombed two sites in Kampala on 11 July 2010 and killed 76 people, to punish Uganda for its troops in Somalia ([VOA, 26 May 2016](https://www.voanews.com/a/uganda-convicts-mastermind-in-2010-bombing/3347317.html)). Uganda was allotted 4,500 troops in AUSSOM, the most of any country, and lost 54 soldiers at Buulo Mareer in May 2023, by its president's count ([Mapping Militant Organizations, Stanford](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/al-shabaab)). Full detail: [Uganda's military in Somalia](/en/institutions/uganda-military-in-somalia/) and [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/).

## How does Uganda deal with Somaliland and the member states?

Uganda treats [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) as part of Somalia. On 23 September 2023 Museveni met Somaliland's envoy, [Jama Musse Jama](/en/people/jama-musse-jama/), in Entebbe and said he would act as "peace facilitator" between Somalia and Somaliland ([Reuters via The Star Malaysia, 24 September 2023](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2023/09/24/uganda-says-it-will-mediate-between-somalia-and-breakaway-somaliland)). Somaliland's government replied that it had "no plans for dialogue to discuss unity with Somalia" ([Al Jazeera, 25 September 2023](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/25/somaliland-rejects-talk-of-unification-with-somalia-after-museveni-comment)).

There have been working contacts. Somaliland's foreign minister, Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, met Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga in Kampala in March 2020 ([Horn Diplomat, March 2020](https://www.horndiplomat.com/?p=31547)). A Ugandan health ministry team with the ECSA Health Community worked in Somaliland from 22 March to 2 April 2026 ([Somaliland Ministry of Health Development, April 2026](https://somalilandmohd.com/?p=6389)).

Ugandan troops have served in the member states, including [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/) in [South West State](/en/states/south-west-state/). See [Uganda's military in Somalia](/en/institutions/uganda-military-in-somalia/).

## Have there been disputes?

- **Golweyn, 2021**: AMISOM admitted that Ugandan troops unlawfully killed seven civilians on 10 August 2021. A Ugandan court martial in Mogadishu convicted five soldiers, and Somalia's justice minister announced the verdict ([VOA, 13 November 2021](https://www.voanews.com/a/two-ugandan-soldiers-sentenced-to-death-in-somalia/6311893.html)).
- **Kampala summit, July 2026**: Hassan Sheikh objected to draft communiqué language on Somalia's internal politics. "Political matters of Somalia is very internal," he said ([Dawan Africa, 1 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/explainer-what-did-the-kampala-aussom-summit-decide-and-why-did-somalia-oppose-part-of-the-communique)).

## How many Somalis live in Uganda?

At the end of 2025 UNHCR counted 48,253 Somali refugees and 1,679 asylum seekers in Uganda ([UNHCR Refugee Data Finder API](https://api.unhcr.org/population/v1/population/?limit=200&yearFrom=1990&yearTo=2025&coo=SOM&coa=UGA)). See [Somalis in Uganda](/en/diaspora/uganda/).

## Where does Uganda stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia?

Uganda kept the largest AU contingent from 2007 ([CFR, Al-Shabaab backgrounder](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/al-shabaab)). On 31 July 2026 it hosted the AUSSOM troop contributors' summit, which backed an 18-to-24-month transition and a donors' conference ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/explainer-what-did-the-kampala-aussom-summit-decide-and-why-did-somalia-oppose-part-of-the-communique)). The summit met after the United States told the AU on 1 July 2026 that it would not support renewing the mission's mandate ([Daily Monitor, 2026](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-vows-africa-will-not-abandon-somalia-if-international-partners-pull-out-5543288)).

"Somalia will not be abandoned," Museveni told that summit ([Daily Monitor, 2026](https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-vows-africa-will-not-abandon-somalia-if-international-partners-pull-out-5543288)). Uganda's foreign minister Sam Kutesa attended the IGAD summit on Somalia in Sirte, Libya, on 30 June 2009 ([IGAD communiqué, 2009](https://osesgy.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/090630%20Communique%20of%20IGAD%2014th%20extra-ordinary%20session%20%28Sirte%2C%20Libya%29.pdf)). In November 2024 Kenya and Uganda were named to mediate between Ethiopia and Somalia ([Sowetan, 30 November 2024](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/africa/2024-11-30-kenya-and-uganda-to-mediate-ethiopia-somalia-dispute/)).

## Related pages

- [Somalis in Uganda](/en/diaspora/uganda/)
- [Somali business in Uganda](/en/economy/somali-business-in-uganda/)
- [Uganda's military in Somalia](/en/institutions/uganda-military-in-somalia/)
- [AMISOM](/en/institutions/amisom/), [ATMIS](/en/institutions/atmis/), [AUSSOM](/en/institutions/aussom/)
- [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/)
- [Somalia and Tanzania](/en/relations/tanzania/)
- [Somalia and the EAC](/en/relations/eac/)
- [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/)
- [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/)

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