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Uganda, Somalia to host Joint Commission, business summit to boost bilateral ties
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by JAVIRA SSEBWAMI | PML Daily Staff Writer
Thursday September 25, 2025
Uganda will host the second session of the Uganda-Somalia Joint Permanent Commission and a business summit to strengthen bilateral relations and promote trade and investment between the two countries.
The event, scheduled for Oct. 7-8 at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, is themed “Promoting Uganda-Somalia Partnership through Investment, Trade and Tourism, and Harnessing Opportunities in Both Countries.” It will bring together government officials and private sector leaders to review existing cooperation and explore new economic opportunities.
During a media launch at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Professor Sam Tulya Muhika, Uganda’s Head of Mission in Somalia, said the summit aims to raise awareness among Ugandan businesses about trade and investment opportunities.
“While Ugandans engage in business with Somalia, the reverse is currently limited,” Muhika said.
He highlighted the historical ties between the two nations, noting the Somali community has been in Uganda since the 1920s. He also referenced the 2016 framework agreement that established the Joint Permanent Commission and allows government agencies to sign memoranda of understanding, or MOUs, under its oversight.
The upcoming JPC will review agreements from 2022 on defense, trade and diplomatic cooperation. New MOUs are expected to be signed on immigration, education, sports and labor.
The summit will be attended by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. It will feature exhibitions, business-to-business sessions and discussions on overcoming trade barriers.
Ambassador Abdi Latif Ali, Somalia’s Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, expressed gratitude for the meetings, calling them a “reflection of deep bilateral ties.” He acknowledged Uganda’s support during Somalia’s difficult periods and recalled Somalia’s support for Uganda in the 1970s.
Richard Kabonero, head of Regional Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the growth of Uganda’s export base.
“In the last 15 years, Uganda has added 31 new products to its export markets, and there is no better market than our neighbors and the region,” he said.
The first session of the JPC was held in Kampala on Aug. 7-8, 2022, and resulted in several key agreements. It was followed by an investment and business summit on Aug. 10, 2022, which produced the Kampala Declaration on Trade, Investment, and Tourism.
Uganda has been a key partner in regional peacekeeping efforts in Somalia through AMISOM, ATMIS and AUSSOM. The two countries are now working to translate these efforts into sustainable trade and development opportunities.
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