Uganda pressuring the Somali government for an agreement to start...

Mogadishu (Caasimada Online) – The Ugandan government has urged Somalia to expedite the completion of the air service agreement between the two countries, in order to establish a clear legal framework for Uganda Airlines to continue operating the route between Mogadishu and Entebbe.

The request from Kampala is not about starting a new flight. Uganda Airlines is currently the only company operating non-stop flights connecting Entebbe and Mogadishu, making four flights a week.

However, the Ugandan government has stated that the company faces operational challenges in Somalia. They believe that the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, abbreviated as BASA, will clearly define the rights and obligations of both parties.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, has stated that the negotiations for the agreement need to be concluded quickly.

“Whenever it is finalized, we are ready to sign,” said Bagiire.

Bagiire made this statement during a meeting held in October in Mogadishu, which assessed the progress of the issues arising from the second session of the Joint Permanent Commission of Somalia and Uganda.

The meeting, which took place at the Airport hotel, was accompanied by a business, investment, and exhibition platform attended by officials and businessmen from both countries.

The two governments later agreed to submit the revised draft of the air services agreement to the legal departments, before it is signed in December, as planned.

What will the agreement change?

The BASA agreement allows both countries to officially manage commercial flights between their countries.

It specifies the companies authorized to operate flights, the airports they can use, the number of flights or seats per week, and the locations where passengers and cargo can be picked up or dropped off.

The agreement also regulates the approval of air overflights, technical stops, ticket prices, flight taxes, the customs system for fuel, and safety and security requirements.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) describes such agreements as providing countries with legal frameworks to manage air services across their borders.

This matter has been on the table since the second session of the joint committee, which was held in October 2025 in Kampala. That meeting instructed the civil aviation authorities of both countries to review the agreement.

Uganda has also submitted draft agreements to Somalia regarding customs, standards and quality assurance, statistics, health, and training and education for the military.

Rapidly growing trade

The effort to finalize the aviation agreement comes at a time when trade between Somalia and Uganda is significantly increasing.

Data from UN Comtrade and OEC shows that the goods Uganda exported to Somalia rose to approximately 2.75 million dollars in 2023, and are projected to reach nearly 6.78 million dollars in 2024.

The exported products, including tobacco, aircraft parts, and wooden goods, are among the most significant items Uganda has exported to Somalia.

On the other hand, the products Somalia exports to Uganda remain very limited, with their annual value estimated between 35,000 and 75,000 dollars.

The economic relationship is not limited to goods. The money sent from Somalia to Uganda each year is estimated to be more than 21 million dollars, while many Somali traders operate in Uganda.

“Trade between Uganda and Somalia has significantly increased. However, I believe that private traders can reach a level beyond these figures,” said Bagiire.

He stated that Somalia's long coastline could serve as a route for Uganda to deliver its goods to Gulf countries, as Uganda does not have a sea.

Bagiire described Mogadishu as a city with the potential to become the “new Dubai” of the East African Community, if both countries facilitate the movement of goods and traders.

Somalia officially became the eighth member of the East African Community in March 2024, a step that has raised hopes for trade and broader interactions with countries in the region.

Employee agreement signed

During the meeting in Mogadishu, the two countries also signed an agreement to regulate the movement of workers between Somalia and Uganda.

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda, General Henry Tumukunde, and the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Somalia, Prof. Saalim Caliyow Ibro, have signed the agreement.

The agreement establishes a framework regarding the recruitment of workers, employment contracts, salaries, and the protection of rights and welfare of workers from both countries.

It will also address complaints including workers not being paid their salaries, passports being withheld, and people working without having a written contract.

“When we align our regulations and remove trade barriers, we unlock trade and production chains in the region,” said Tumukunde.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, Xamza Aadan Xaadoow, urged both sides to translate the agreements into tangible results that people can feel.

“We must ensure that our cooperation is not limited to paper agreements, but brings tangible benefits to the people of Somalia and Uganda,” said Xaadoow.

Both sides also signed the agreed points during the meeting, and they agreed to complete the establishment of the Permanent Investment and Trade Council before the end of November.

Somalia is set to host the third session of the Joint Permanent Committee in 2027, with both countries committing to review the implementation of the decisions made each year.