President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today welcomed two newly appointed Ambassadors to Uganda, Her Excellency Fardowsa Mohamed Qanyare of Somalia and His Excellency Paul Malong Akaro of South Sudan, at State House, Entebbe.
The meeting presented an opportunity for President Museveni to emphasize the importance of ideological clarity in addressing conflicts.
“Fighting is about ideology. You should be able to see what is in your interest. Back in 1971, Somalia was a very strong nation, and it supported us when we were fighting Amin. It is really unfortunate to see continued fighting there.”
President Museveni also reiterated Uganda’s welcoming stance towards African refugees, saying “Uganda is your home”.
“We have many Somalis here in Kansanga as well as South Sudanese. Any African facing difficulties can come and settle here until they find stability.”
Ambassador Fardowsa assured President Museveni that stability in Somalia is improving, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and reaffirming her commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Uganda and Somalia.
Ambassador Akaro provided an update on South Sudan’s progress, stating that the country is experiencing a period of stability and working towards long-term peace.
“South Sudan is moving forward and while challenges remain, we are committed to ensuring a peaceful electoral process in 2027,” he said.
Ambassador Akaro also confirmed that national elections, initially scheduled for December 2026, have been rescheduled to 2027 to allow for better preparations.
President Museveni concluded the meeting by reaffirming Uganda’s support for peace and cooperation in the region, encouraging both Ambassadors to work towards strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between their respective countries and Uganda.
This meeting is part of President Museveni’s efforts to strengthen regional ties, following his recent reception of credentials from nine new envoys to Uganda, including Canada’s ambassador to Uganda, Christopher Thornley.
