He made these remarks in Kampala at an extraordinary summit of heads of State and Government of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The Forum brought together the leaders of the contributing countries, senior representatives of the African Union, the United Nations and IGAD to discuss the current situation in Somalia and ways to strengthen collective efforts to stabilize the country.
The summit was attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud of Somalia, Vice President of Burundi Prosper Bazombanza, Interior Minister and Acting Defense Minister of Djibouti Omar Abdi Said, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atti, Special Envoy of Ethiopia Lieutenant General Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, as well as Kenyan Deputy President Professor Abraham Kithure Kindiki. Among those present were Chairman of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Deputy Executive Secretary of IGAD Mohamed Abdi Ware, Acting Head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Kurat-Ul-Ain Sadozai and representatives of the UN Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).
Prior to the summit, meetings were held between the heads of defense departments and defense ministers, where participants discussed the political and military situation in Somalia, the readiness of the Somali security forces, the process of integrating troops, the deployment of AUSSOM, aviation capabilities and the operational needs of the mission.
Speaking at the plenary session, Museveni stressed that Uganda's decision to send troops to Somalia was not due to geography, but to a strategic choice and a principled position in the fight against violent extremism. He noted that Uganda does not have a common border with Somalia, but the country consciously joined the operation based on the need to protect Africa from radical threats.
To ensure the further work of AUSSOM within the framework of the summit, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the contributing countries, together with the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Commission, were instructed to create a joint task force. Her task will be to diplomatically promote the idea of predictable and sustainable financing of the mission. In addition, the group should prepare a donor conference to mobilize political and financial support during the transition period.
The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, confirmed the AU's readiness to continue to help stabilize Somalia, saying that the progress made over the years must be protected through closer coordination, political determination and reliable financing. He stressed that peace in Somalia is of key importance not only for the Horn of Africa, but also for the security of the entire continent.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud thanked Museveni for organizing the summit and noted Uganda's long-term contribution to ensuring his country's security. He called Uganda one of the main supporting partners of Somalia and expressed hope for further support, especially in raising funds for the mission.
The Kampala summit confirmed the commitment of African leaders to continue stabilizing Somalia through regional cooperation, strengthening Somali security forces, and seeking sustainable financing for AUSSOM.
Museveni also defended the nearly 20-year presence of Ugandan troops in Somalia, saying that the participation of the Ugandan People's Defense Forces was not a territorial initiative, but a strategic contribution to protecting Africa from violent extremism. He recalled that Uganda became the first country to send troops to Somalia in March 2007 as part of the AMISOM mission, after the country plunged into a prolonged crisis following the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991.
Since then, Uganda has remained a key participant in successive African Union peacekeeping operations, from AMISOM to ATMIS in 2022 and on to AUSSOM, which officially replaced ATMIS in January 2025.
Over the past 19 years, UPDF units have played a significant role in securing Mogadishu, protecting key government institutions, opening major transportation routes, liberating cities from Al-Shabaab, training Somali security forces, and creating conditions for political reconstruction and humanitarian activities. The Ugandan military participated in operations to liberate Mogadishu, Markie, Barawe and several districts of Lower Shabelle, as well as provided protection for strategic infrastructure, including the Aden Adde International Airport and the Villa Somaliland Palace.
Over the years, Uganda's contingents in Somalia have been commanded by senior UPDF officers, including the late Major General Nathan Mugisha, the first Commander of AMISOM forces, as well as Major General Levi Karuhanga, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, Lieutenant General Sam Kawuma, Lieutenant General Jim Owoyesigire, Major General Kayanja Muhanga and General- Major Kit Katungi.
The uncertainty surrounding international financing made the summit particularly acute. There have been signals that the United States may oppose continued UN logistical support for AUSSOM after the end of the current mandate at the end of December 2026. Washington believes that, despite years of investment, the Somali security forces have not yet achieved full self-sufficiency. This raises concerns about the future of UNSOS, which provides peacekeepers with transportation, medical evacuation, engineering, fuel, communications, and other critical logistics.
The lack of funding has alarmed the countries sending troops: they fear that a premature termination of international aid could undo the gains made and increase the threat from Al-Shabaab in the region.
Responding to concerns about a possible reduction in international support for the Somali mission, Museveni called on African countries to rely primarily on their own resources and abilities. He made it clear that the fate of Somalia should not depend on the decisions of external investors, and that Africa has the potential to independently ensure the continuation of peacekeeping efforts.
As an example of African solidarity, he recalled Uganda's struggle against the Idi Amin regime, when aid came from Tanzania and Mozambique. According to him, such mutual support has always been the foundation of successful African initiatives.
The African Union, for its part, has consistently insisted that the preservation of results in Somalia is possible only with predictable and sustainable funding, and calls on partners to fulfill their obligations to African-led operations.
At the closed-door meeting, the leaders heard reports from defense departments on the progress of AUSSOM, including the status of the Somali security forces, the formation and integration of contingents, the current deployment status and overall operational capabilities.
The Kampala summit eventually became an attempt to develop a unified regional position on the future of AUSSOM, including sustainable financing, building strength and maintaining international support. African leaders are striving to prevent the loss of almost two decades of progress achieved in one of the longest-running peacekeeping missions on the continent.
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