News Brief: President Yoweri Museveni has called on Somali leaders and citizens to unite against Al-Shabaab, while welcoming a proposed warehouse arrangement that would give Ugandan coffee exporters more direct access to Somalia’s market.
Kampala, Uganda — President Museveni has urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against Al-Shabaab, arguing that ideological divisions and a failure to identify the country’s underlying challenges correctly have undermined efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
Museveni made the remarks on Monday, October 26, 2026, while meeting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at State House, Entebbe, during an official visit focused on security cooperation, bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.
The Ugandan leader said Somalia needed a clear understanding of the causes of its challenges and a united approach to confronting the insurgency, warning that divisions among the majority could allow a smaller group to retain influence.
“The problem of Somalia is ideological and a misdiagnosis of problems,” Museveni said, drawing comparisons with other African countries, including Sudan, where sectarian approaches to governance have contributed to political divisions and exclusion.
“All the problems you’re talking about, we know them. We need to be organised and stand with the main problem,” he said. “Unite the many to defeat the few, but some Africans want to annoy the many to stay with the few,” he added.
Museveni emphasised the importance of political organisation and unity in addressing the security challenges threatening Somalia, where Al-Shabaab continues to pose a major threat to stability.
Somalia commends Uganda’s military support
During the meeting, Mohamud briefed Museveni on the security situation in Somalia and commended the contribution of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) to efforts to restore peace.
Ugandan troops have participated in African Union-led peace support operations in Somalia, supporting Somali security forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab militants.
Mohamud thanked Museveni for Uganda’s continued military contribution and support, expressing hope that Ugandan troops would remain in Somalia longer to help achieve full pacification and lasting stability.
The discussions underscored the security partnership between the two countries as regional and international partners continue supporting efforts to strengthen Somali security institutions and combat the insurgency.
Beyond security, the Somali President appreciated Uganda’s hospitality towards Somali nationals living, studying and conducting business in the country.
Somalia’s Ambassador to Uganda, Fardowsa Mohamed Qanyare, told the meeting that approximately 8,000 Somalis operate businesses in Uganda, while about 15,000 Somali students are pursuing studies at Ugandan universities.
The figures highlight the existing people-to-people and commercial links between the two countries, which both governments are seeking to strengthen.
Museveni welcomes Somali market for Ugandan coffee
The two Presidents also discussed ways to expand bilateral trade, particularly by improving direct access for Ugandan products to the Somali market. Mr Museveni welcomed the development that Somalia had permitted Uganda to establish a warehouse in the country through which processed Ugandan coffee would be marketed and sold.
The proposed arrangement is expected to provide Ugandan coffee exporters with a more direct route to Somali consumers, potentially reducing reliance on intermediaries and creating additional opportunities for trade.
Nelson Tugume, who recently returned from Somalia, told the two leaders that Somalia imports coffee from European countries, with Ugandan coffee reportedly passing through other markets before reaching Somali consumers.
The proposed warehouse could help shorten that route by creating a direct commercial channel for Ugandan coffee in Somalia, although details of its location, operational arrangements and expected volumes were not provided in the account of the meeting.
Improved market access could create opportunities for Ugandan exporters while giving Somali buyers a more direct link to Uganda’s coffee industry.
The discussions reflect an effort by Kampala and Mogadishu to complement security cooperation with economic partnerships, expanding commercial ties as both countries pursue their wider bilateral interests.
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