Mogadishu (HOL) – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told a Somali delegation in Kampala on Monday that his government was willing to assist Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab but that his country did not have the financial capabilities to pay for the salaries of Somali soldiers.

We can help Somalia to defeat Al Shabaab. If it’s a question of weapons, we can buy them and give it to them (Somalia). We can buy uniforms and even share food, but we cannot manage the salary. Salary, for even a month, we can’t manage.”

Museveni said the practice of getting Somalia’s international partners – namely the UAE, Qatar and Turkey – to fund the arming and training of Somali soldiers is not sustainable. He added that security is imperative for the survival of a nation.

“When will you (Somalia) get security? If I’m a poor woman who doesn’t have money, I can still defend my home. I can mobilize my son and brother, and we will defend our home. We want peace.

The Ugandan president made these comments following a meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is in Kampala for a two-day state visit.

Mohamud was received at Kampala’s Entebbe International Airport by a government delegation that was led by Uganda’s foreign affairs minister, General Jeje Odongo.Since his election in May, President Mohamed has travelled to nearly a dozen countries in a bid to assuage international partners who felt snubbed during the previous administration of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.