President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Somali leaders and citizens to unite against Al-Shabaab, while calling for stronger trade ties between Uganda and Somalia, including direct exports of Ugandan coffee to the Somali market.
President Museveni made the remarks on Monday, October 26th, 2026, during a meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at State House, Entebbe, where the two leaders discussed Somalia’s security challenges and opportunities to expand bilateral trade.
Museveni attributed Somalia’s persistent instability partly to ideological divisions and what he described as a failure to correctly identify the country’s problems, arguing that unity and political organisation were essential to defeating the insurgency.
“The problem of Somalia is ideological and a misdiagnosis of problems,” Museveni said, urging Somalis to unite against the common threat.
“Unite the many to defeat the few, but some Africans want to annoy the many to stay with the few,” he added.
President Mohamud briefed the President on Somalia’s security situation and commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their contribution to African Union-led peace support operations against Al-Shabaab. He also expressed hope that Ugandan troops would remain in Somalia longer to support efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
The Somali leader further thanked Uganda for its hospitality towards Somali nationals living, studying and doing business in the country.
Somalia’s Ambassador to Uganda, Fardowsa Mohamed Qanyare, said approximately 8,000 Somalis operate businesses in Uganda, while about 15,000 Somali students attend Ugandan universities.
The two presidents also explored ways to increase trade, with Museveni welcoming Somalia’s decision to allow Uganda to establish a warehouse for marketing and selling processed Ugandan coffee.
The proposed facility is expected to give Ugandan exporters more direct access to Somali consumers, reducing reliance on intermediaries and creating opportunities for expanded trade.
Nelson Tugume, who recently returned from Somalia, told the leaders that Somalia imports coffee from European countries, with Ugandan coffee reportedly reaching the market through other trading hubs.
The warehouse initiative could help Uganda capture a greater share of the Somali coffee market while strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by officials from Uganda’s foreign affairs and defence ministries, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire, and Uganda’s Ambassador to Somalia, Prof. Sam Tulya-Muhika.
