President Museveni Calls for Somali Unity and Enhanced Coffee Trade

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently hosted the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at State House, Entebbe, for high-level bilateral discussions. The talks centered on security cooperation in the Horn of Africa and strategies to deepen economic ties between Uganda and Somalia.

Addressing the security situation, President Museveni stressed that Somalia’s ongoing struggles stem from ideological misdiagnoses and political divisions. He urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, cautioning that internal fragmentation only serves to empower a minority of extremists.

President Mohamud formally briefed his Ugandan counterpart on the security landscape and expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Ugandan troops, operating under regional peace support frameworks, have worked alongside local security forces to stabilize the nation. President Mohamud also acknowledged Uganda’s hospitality, noting that thousands of Somali nationals currently live, study, and conduct business peacefully across the country.

Beyond security matters, the two leaders explored avenues to boost bilateral commerce. A key highlight of the economic talks was the agreement allowing Uganda to establish a dedicated coffee warehouse in Somalia. This initiative aims to streamline trade by enabling direct exports of processed Ugandan coffee, cutting out European and regional intermediaries who previously handled the supply chain.

With approximately 8,000 Somali business operators and 15,000 students residing in Uganda, the new trade arrangement is expected to further cement the strong diplomatic and commercial relationship between the two nations.

Read more about this story at the State House Uganda.