KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda will host an extraordinary summit of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), bringing together regional leaders and international security officials for talks aimed at sustaining peace and stability in Somalia.
The three-day gathering will take place from July 29 to 31, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.
Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, issued the announcement on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the UPDF.
The summit comes amid continued efforts by African countries, the African Union, the United Nations and regional organisations to strengthen security cooperation, coordinate military operations and support Somalia’s long-term stabilisation process.
Proceedings will begin on Wednesday, July 29, with a meeting of Chiefs of Defence Forces from the troop-contributing countries. Defence ministers will meet on Thursday, July 30, before the summit concludes on Friday, July 31, with a high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government.
The participating troop-contributing countries are Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya. Somalia will also participate in the discussions as the host country of the African Union mission.
The Kampala summit is expected to provide an opportunity for the participating countries to assess the security situation in Somalia, strengthen coordination among troop contributors and discuss measures needed to maintain pressure on armed groups threatening the country and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Senior United Nations officials are also expected to attend, including the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia and the head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia.
The African Union delegation will include the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, who also serves as head of AUSSOM.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development will be represented by its Deputy Executive Secretary, reflecting the regional organisation’s role in supporting peace, security and political stability in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa.
The summit will be held under the theme, “To Sustain the Stabilisation Process in Somalia.”
Uganda said hosting the meeting underlines its commitment to collective African security and to working with other troop-contributing countries to support Somalia’s transition towards sustainable peace and greater responsibility for its own national security.
“Uganda is honoured to host this important gathering and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to regional peace, security and stability under the African Union framework, working closely with the United Nations, IGAD and other partners,” the statement said.
Uganda has for years played a central role in African Union peace-support operations in Somalia, contributing troops and supporting regional efforts to weaken armed groups, protect strategic installations and assist Somali authorities in rebuilding national security institutions.
The Kampala summit is therefore expected to focus not only on military coordination, but also on the political, financial and logistical support required to ensure that AUSSOM can fulfil its stabilisation mandate.
The participation of defence chiefs, ministers and heads of state is intended to align military planning with political decision-making and reinforce burden-sharing among the countries involved in the mission.
The meeting will also highlight the importance of cooperation between African troop contributors and international partners, particularly in the provision of funding, equipment, logistical support and institutional assistance.
