Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Kampala on Friday, July 31, 2026 [1], to hold bilateral talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni [1].
The meeting serves as a critical precursor to an upcoming summit on the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. Because Uganda is a primary troop-contributing country, the coordination between these two leaders is essential for the transition and operational success of the mission.
During the visit, the two presidents focused on the strategic framework of the peacekeeping efforts. The discussions aimed to align their objectives before the broader summit, ensuring that the security architecture in Somalia remains stable during the handover and restructuring process.
"Our discussions today will shape the future of AUSSOM," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said [2].
The talks highlighted the continued commitment of the Ugandan government to support Somali stability. The partnership between Kampala and Mogadishu remains a cornerstone of the regional security strategy, a relationship that has seen years of military cooperation.
"We will be with you," President Yoweri Museveni said [2].
The arrival of President Mohamud on July 31 [1] signals an urgency to finalize the details of the AUSSOM mandate. Both leaders are expected to present a unified front at the summit to secure the necessary resources and political backing from other African Union member states.
“"Our discussions today will shape the future of AUSSOM,"”
The bilateral meeting underscores the dependency of the AUSSOM mission on the continued military and political support of Uganda. By aligning their positions before the summit, Mohamud and Museveni are attempting to ensure a seamless transition of security responsibilities that avoids a power vacuum in Somalia, which could otherwise be exploited by insurgent groups.
