“Finding regional markets is critically important for our economy. Our missions abroad have the mandate to find markets, attract investment, and bring in tourists,” says Amb Kabonero.
Uganda is moving to expand trade, investment, and labor cooperation with Somalia under a new wave of bilateral agreements, according to Ambassador Richard Kabonero, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director for Regional and International Economic Cooperation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ChimpReports on the sidelines of the Second Uganda–Somalia Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) and Business Forum in Kampala, Kabonero said the framework “anchors Uganda’s bilateral cooperation with Somalia,” opening markets and building confidence for regional trade and labor mobility.
“The JPC opens up markets for our products, encourages cross-border investment, and air links — for example, Uganda Airlines now flies to Mogadishu four times a week, transporting many of our manufactured products,” Kabonero said.
Uganda, he noted, has added 34 new products to its export basket over the past five years and is prioritizing regional markets under the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
“Finding regional markets is critically important for our economy,” he said. “Our missions abroad have the mandate to find markets, attract investment, and bring in tourists.”
Kabonero revealed that Uganda and Somalia are preparing to sign a bilateral labor agreement to protect the rights of Ugandan workers in Somalia and facilitate legal employment pathways.
“Uganda has over 20,000 citizens working in the federal government in Somalia,” he said.
“This labor agreement will provide protection for them and for others seeking opportunities in the wider region. Somalia is also a gateway to the Gulf.”
He said the two nations are also negotiating an education memorandum of understanding, as Somalia seeks Ugandan teachers, health professionals, and technical expertise.
“Somalia needs teachers, health professionals, and other skilled workers. This partnership will help fill those gaps while creating employment for our citizens,” he added.
Kabonero said the business forum, held alongside the JPC, drew over 60 companies from both countries exhibiting products and exploring partnerships.
“Every product manufactured here, every crop grown, has a market in Somalia,” he said. “We just need to strengthen linkages between Ugandan and Somali private sectors under a solid legal and regulatory framework.”
He added that the Bank of Uganda and the Central Bank of Somalia are already cooperating on financial systems, a step expected to ease cross-border trade and remittances.
Kabonero credited Uganda’s 18-year military presence in Somalia under AMISOM and AUSSOM for helping stabilize the country, creating the peace dividend now being realized through trade and integration.
“It’s been 18 years of heavy lifting, but we are seeing dividends pay off now as Somalia joins the East African Community,” he said.
“It was a great vision by our leaders to ensure insecurity across the region and continent is addressed.”
He said the improving security environment has encouraged Ugandan professionals to work in Somalia, dismissing earlier skepticism.
“There was concern about security challenges, but as you heard from the Somalis themselves, these are isolated incidents,” Kabonero said. “The 20,000 Ugandans working there are happy, safe, and remitting money home from their hard work.”
Looking Ahead
Kabonero said the JPC will remain central to Uganda’s regional economic diplomacy, ensuring that trade and investment follow stability.
“With this JPC, we expect to open more markets and more opportunities for our people,” he said. “The future of our region lies in cooperation — not isolation.”
Other speakers at the Uganda–Somalia Joint Permanent Commission echoed a shared commitment to turning long-standing political solidarity into tangible economic progress.
Somalia’s head of delegation, Ambassador Hamza Adan Hadow, praised Uganda’s 18-year contribution to peacekeeping under AMISOM and AUSSOM, saying the sacrifices of Ugandan troops “embody the true spirit of African solidarity.”
Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Waiswa Bagiire emphasized the need to harmonize education policies for Somali students, expand exports, and double trade to $8 million, while urging businesses to “move from cooperation to delivery.”
Officials from both sides hailed Somalia’s recent admission into the East African Community (EAC) as a game-changer that will ease trade, movement, and investment, pledging to accelerate implementation of signed memoranda in areas such as labor, education, defense, and financial services.
