KAMPALA: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia has arrived in the Ugandan capital to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni, who is set to be sworn in for a seventh term in office. Mohamud and his delegation landed at Entebbe International Airport on Monday, where they were received by Uganda’s Prime Minister and senior government officials.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986, secured re-election in the general elections held on January 15, 2026, capturing approximately 71.7 percent of the vote. The inauguration marks the start of his 2026‑2031 term.
The Somali President held talks with President Museveni on the sidelines of the inauguration, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations between Mogadishu and Kampala. According to official briefings, the discussions covered cooperation on security, counter‑terrorism, economic development, and broader strategic partnership. President Mohamud conveyed his congratulations to Museveni on his re‑election and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to deepening ties with Uganda. President Museveni, for his part, reiterated Uganda’s continued support for Somalia’s stability and state‑building efforts.
The visit also underscores Uganda’s longstanding role in Somalia’s security architecture. Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union peacekeeping mission in 2007, and remains the largest troop contributor to the current African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Ugandan forces are stationed across several sectors, providing training, logistical support, and combat assistance to the Somali National Army in its ongoing fight against Al‑Shabaab militants. Bilateral defence ties were further formalised in 2025 with the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation between the two countries.
The Presidents also reviewed progress on a series of memoranda of understanding signed during the Second Uganda‑Somalia Joint Permanent Commission and Business Summit held in Kampala in October 2025. Those agreements, covering security, education, immigration management, labour, and trade, were designed to strengthen sectoral cooperation and promote economic integration between the two East African nations. Somalia and Uganda also serve as partners in regional bodies including the East African Community (EAC) and the Inter‑Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
President Mohamud’s presence at the inauguration is a continuation of his regional diplomatic engagement, following his recent attendance at the swearing‑in ceremony of Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti. The Somali leader is expected to return to Mogadishu later this week. Meanwhile, more than 30 international delegations, including other African leaders and representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League, are attending the event.
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