Uganda and Somalia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation following the successful conclusion of the Second Session of the Uganda–Somalia Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), held from October 7–8, 2025, at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
The high-lev
el talks brought together senior government officials from both nations, with the Somali delegation led by Farahsheikh Abdulkadir, Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the Ugandan delegation headed by John Mulimba, Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation.
In their joint communiqué, the ministers expressed satisfaction with the growing partnership between the two countries and agreed to convene the JPC biennially.
To ensure momentum between sessions, senior officials will conduct annual midterm reviews to monitor the implementation of decisions and explore new areas of cooperation.
During the talks, the two sides reviewed the status of existing agreements signed during the first session of the JPC. These included memoranda of understanding on diplomatic consultations, defence, trade, investment promotion, and cooperation between chambers of commerce.
The ministers also welcomed the signing of three new memoranda of understanding aimed at enhancing collaboration in immigration management, education and sports, and security cooperation.
They further directed senior officials to expedite the conclusion of additional agreements in several critical sectors, including health, standards and quality assurance, customs, refugee management, finance and banking, statistics, and environmental protection.
On civil aviation, both parties emphasized the need to update the Bilateral Air Service Agreement and instructed aeronautical authorities to meet and undertake a review as soon as possible.
Similar urgency was placed on finalizing a bilateral labour agreement to facilitate the movement and protection of workers between the two nations.
In a significant gesture of capacity-building support, Uganda offered to train Somali diplomats, and a tailored curriculum was shared during the session.
The two countries also reviewed and adopted the Kampala Declaration on Trade, Investment, and Tourism, officially operationalizing the Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council.
This body is expected to play a central role in addressing non-tariff barriers and promoting commercial opportunities in both Uganda and Somalia.
Looking ahead, both countries agreed that the Third Session of the Uganda–Somalia Joint Permanent Commission and Investment and Business Forum will be held in 2027 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The outcomes of this session mark another important step in consolidating the strong political and economic bonds between Uganda and Somalia, underscoring a shared vision for regional cooperation, stability, and prosperity.
