By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 18 January 2026 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday congratulated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on his re-election, following a contested vote that extended the veteran leader’s 40-year rule.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Mohamud praised the "notable progress" Uganda has made under Museveni in development and regional stability, signalling a continuation of the close security partnership between the two East African nations.
"I reaffirm Somalia’s commitment to strengthening our brotherly ties with Uganda," Mohamud said.
Uganda is a primary troop contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia, providing essential support to Mogadishu’s long-standing battle against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab. The two countries recently deepened these ties, signing new pacts in late 2025 regarding security and labour migration
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Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of the Jan. 15 election with approximately 72 per cent of the vote, according to Uganda’s Electoral Commission. His main challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Bobi Wine—rejected the results as "fake," alleging widespread fraud and intimidation.
The election took place under a nationwide internet blackout, a move the government defended as necessary for security but which drew sharp criticism from international rights groups and the United Nations.
While some regional leaders and the African Union Commission have extended congratulations, the vote was marred by reports of violence and the temporary house arrest of opposition figures.
