Somalia and Uganda agreed on Wednesday to introduce free visas on arrival for holders of diplomatic and service passports during the Somalia–Uganda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) Mid-Term Review, Business Forum and Joint Exhibition held in Mogadishu.
The arrangement is scheduled to be implemented by 30 December 2026, allowing eligible government officials and employees to obtain visas without charge upon arrival in either country. The free visa arrangement will apply exclusively to holders of diplomatic and service passports and will not extend to citizens travelling on ordinary passports.
The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in immigration management signed by the two governments in Kampala on 8 October 2025, during the second session of the Somalia–Uganda Joint Permanent Commission. That earlier MoU laid the groundwork for streamlined immigration procedures between the two East African Community partners, and Wednesday’s commitment marks a concrete step toward implementing it.
Once implemented, the measure will remove visa fees for eligible travellers entering either country, with the aim of facilitating official visits and strengthening cooperation between government institutions. The commitment is among the measures being reviewed during the ongoing Somalia–Uganda cooperation meeting in Mogadishu, where delegations are also discussing trade, investment, aviation and progress on previous bilateral agreements.
Somalia and Uganda share longstanding bilateral ties, with Uganda having contributed troops to the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM, now ATMIS) since 2007.
Uganda remains one of the largest troop-contributing countries to the AU peacekeeping operation, and the two countries have cooperated closely on security, trade and regional stability. Both are members of the East African Community (EAC), with Somalia joining the bloc in November 2023, a development that has opened new avenues for economic and political integration.
The Joint Permanent Commission serves as the primary bilateral framework for reviewing and advancing cooperation between Mogadishu and Kampala.
The current mid-term review in Mogadishu brings together delegations to assess progress on previously signed agreements and to explore new areas of collaboration, including trade, investment and aviation. The visa-free arrangement for officials is expected to ease travel for government delegations, reduce administrative costs and signal the deepening of diplomatic relations between the two EAC member states.
