Uganda seeks to route exports to the Gulf through Somalia
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Watchdoguganda
Uganda is considering using the Somali coastline as a shorter sea route to Gulf markets, its main export destination, according to Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, permanent secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The prospect was raised during a review of the joint permanent commission between the two countries in Mogadishu, as their trade more than doubled in a year, Watchdoguganda reports.
Uganda is considering using the Somali coast as a sea route to Gulf markets, its main export destination. Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, permanent secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented the possibility on Wednesday in Mogadishu, during the mid-term review of the Permanent Joint Commission between the two countries, according to Watchdoguganda.
The Middle East accounted for 54.2% of Uganda’s merchandise exports in April 2026, almost all of them destined for the United Arab Emirates, according to the Finance Ministry’s May economic report. Uganda’s total exports reached a record 46 trillion shillings ($12.7 billion) in the 12 months to November 2025, up 33% year on year, according to the Bank of Uganda.
Bilateral trade remains modest. Ugandan exports to Somalia rose from 11.4 billion shillings in 2023 to 28 billion in 2024, according to UN data. Somali exports to Uganda stood at 146 million shillings in 2021, compared with 2.8 billion in 2016.
The review is taking place alongside an investment and business forum and a joint exhibition. Bagiire listed fresh fruit, cereals, flour, long-life milk, pharmaceuticals and processed coffee among the products sought by Somali importers.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
