BY Enock Kakande
THE President of the United Republic of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, arrived yesterday on a two-day state visit.
He flew in on Kenya Airways and landed at Entebbe Airport at 3:40pm. He was received by a government entourage led by Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya.
Ministers Kirunda Kivejinja, Nshimye Sebuturo and Uganda’s ambassador to Kenya Brig. Matayo Kyaligonza were also present.
Abdullahi received a 21-gun salute and inspected a UPDF guard of honour.
Officials of the Somali community living in Uganda led by a Kampala businessman, Umar Ahmed Mandella, jubilated as their new president walked on the airport tarmac.
He hugged and shook hands with them before he was driven to Kampala.
Abdullahi will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart, Yoweri Museveni and several government officials on ways to strengthen political, social and economic links between the two countries, Bukenya’s press secretary Simon Kaheru said.
Abdullahi, elected last month, is the first president of Somalia after 14 years of no central government in the Horn of Africa. He was sworn-in last month in Nairobi, Kenya.