ENTEBBE, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has held talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at State House Entebbe, focusing on regional peace, security and cooperation ahead of the Extraordinary Summit of Troop-Contributing Countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

President Museveni said the discussions centred on strengthening efforts towards a stable, united and prosperous Somalia, emphasising Uganda’s continued commitment to supporting peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

“I reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to supporting a stable, united, and prosperous Somalia because peace in Somalia is important for the stability of our region,” Museveni said.

The meeting came ahead of the high-level AUSSOM summit scheduled for Friday in Kampala, where Heads of State and Government from troop-contributing countries are expected to discuss the future of the African Union-led mission and strategies to sustain Somalia’s stabilisation process.

The summit brings together leaders from Uganda, Somalia, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya, alongside representatives from the African Union, United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Uganda has been a key contributor to African Union peace operations in Somalia since 2007, when it became the first country to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which later transitioned to ATMIS and now AUSSOM.

The engagement between President Museveni and President Hassan Sheikh comes at a critical moment for Somalia’s security mission, with troop-contributing countries seeking sustainable financing and stronger international support to maintain gains made against armed groups.

Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, UN Secretary General Candidate Amb. Olara Otunnu, Ag. Foreign Affairs Minister Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune were among the officials who attended the meeting.

The AUSSOM Extraordinary Summit, being held under the theme “To Sustain the Stabilisation Process in Somalia,” is expected to address operational challenges, mission financing, strengthening Somali security institutions and the transition of security responsibilities to Somali forces.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit also underscores the close bilateral relationship between Uganda and Somalia, anchored on defence cooperation, regional stability and joint efforts against terrorism in the Horn of Africa.