Uganda: Somalia Urged to Finalize Air Services Agreement

• Uganda has urged Somalia to conclude a Bilateral Air Service Agreement and act on draft MoUs covering customs, standards, statistics, and health.
• The discussions are part of a mid-term review of the Uganda-Somalia Joint Permanent Commission held in Mogadishu.
• Ugandan exports to Somalia increased from $2.75 million in 2023 to $6.78 million in 2024, with tobacco, aircraft parts, and wood products leading.
• Somalia's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs outlined priorities including implementing existing commitments and establishing strong follow-up mechanisms.
• Uganda views Somalia, with its long coastline, as a potential trade bridge to Gulf states, envisioning Mogadishu as a "New Dubai" in the EAC.

The signing of these agreements and memoranda should translate into tangible, results-oriented collaboration that fosters economic growth and shared prosperity for both nations.

Uganda has formally pressed Somalia to expedite the finalization of a crucial air services agreement and to act on several draft memoranda of understanding (MoUs) spanning customs, standards, statistics, and health. This diplomatic push occurred during a mid-term review of the Uganda-Somalia Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), which convened at the Airport Hotel in Mogadishu.

Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the urgency of concluding negotiations on the Bilateral Air Service Agreement Uganda. He stated that the agreement should be signed "as soon as possible" to facilitate enhanced air connectivity. The review session, co-chaired by Hamza Adan Haadoow, the Permanent Secretary in Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also ran concurrently with an investment and business forum and a joint exhibition, underscoring the broader economic agenda.

Mr. Bagiire confirmed that Uganda had already submitted the draft MoUs covering customs, quality assurance and standards, statistics, and public health. These proposed agreements are intended to streamline various aspects of cross-border interaction. Mr. Haadoow, for his part, outlined three primary objectives for the review: ensuring the implementation of existing commitments, clearly assigning responsibilities and timelines, and establishing robust follow-up mechanisms to track progress.

Beyond the immediate call for the air services pact, the two nations are exploring a wider spectrum of cooperation. The operational challenges faced by Uganda Airlines in Somalia have been identified as a new area for collaborative efforts, a point of agreement reached during the second JPC session held in Kampala in October 2025. Currently, Uganda Airlines is the sole carrier providing non-stop flights between Entebbe and Mogadishu, operating four services weekly.

Another significant initiative from the Kampala meeting was the establishment of a Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council, designed to tackle non-tariff barriers impeding trade. However, this council has not yet been made operational. Mr. Bagiire articulated the expectation that the signing of these agreements and memoranda should translate into tangible, results-oriented collaboration that fosters economic growth and shared prosperity for both nations.

Mr. Haadoow highlighted Somalia's perception of substantial potential to expand cooperation with Uganda across diverse sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, education, health, labor, and aviation. He urged businesses participating in the forum to forge partnerships, explore new markets, and identify commercially viable opportunities that would mutually benefit both countries, stressing that cooperation must extend beyond mere paper agreements to deliver concrete advantages to the citizens of Somalia and and Uganda.

The ongoing review takes place amidst a backdrop of increasing, albeit from a low base, trade volumes between Uganda and Somalia. Data from United Nations Comtrade indicates a significant rise in Ugandan exports to Somalia, climbing from sh11.4 billion ($2.75 million) in 2023 to sh28 billion ($6.78 million) in 2024. Tobacco products constituted the largest export category, valued at sh10.6 billion ($2.55 million), followed by aircraft and parts at sh5 billion ($1.2 million), and wood products at sh2.2 billion ($528,470).

Conversely, Somalia's exports to Uganda remain considerably smaller. In 2021, these exports amounted to sh146 million ($35,400), a decrease from sh2.8 billion ($671,000) recorded in 2016, according to UN Comtrade figures. Despite the exponential growth in bilateral trade, Mr. Bagiire expressed confidence that the private sector could achieve even better statistics, noting that both governments have established platforms like business forums and exhibitions to facilitate such opportunities.

Somali importers are reportedly seeking a range of products, including fresh fruit, various grains (maize, wheat), cassava flour, long-life milk, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and processed coffee and tea. Mr. Bagiire underscored Uganda's landlocked status and Somalia's extensive 3,333km coastline along the Indian Ocean, positioning Somalia as a potential trade bridge between Africa and the Gulf states. He envisioned Mogadishu as a prospective "New Dubai" within the East African Community (EAC), suggesting that shorter sea routes could substantially reduce shipping costs and enhance market access if fully realized. The Gulf region already represents Uganda's largest export market, as detailed in the finance ministry's Performance of the Economy report for May 2026.

Lawyers advising clients on Uganda-Somalia trade, aviation, or investment should monitor the conclusion and implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement and various MoUs (customs, standards, health) as they will impact operational frameworks and compliance requirements for cross-border business.

Source: Reporting based on recent diplomatic discussions.