The Presidency
Today at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. An official reception ceremony was held, and the national anthems of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Uganda were played.
Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi and the Ugandan President held a closed meeting, followed by an expanded session of talks joined by the two countries’ delegations. The two sides discussed ways to enhance the historic relations between Egypt and Uganda. They agreed to forge closer cooperation, notably in the political, commercial, and investment spheres, in a manner that serves the common interests of the two brotherly peoples.
President El-Sisi and Uganda’s President Museveni witnessed the signing of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), covering technical cooperation in the water resources management sector, agricultural and food cooperation, and investment. Other MoUs envisioned mutual visa exemption for holders of official passports, and diplomatic cooperation in order to support the establishment of a Ugandan diplomatic institute.
Following the talks, the two Presidents held a joint press conference reviewing the outcome of their discussions.
President El-Sisi’s Speech at the Egypt-Uganda Businessmen Forum
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Benevolent”
My brother, Your Excellency President Yoweri Museveni,
President of the Republic of Uganda,
Ladies and gentlemen, Distinguished guests,
It is my pleasure to welcome you and my brother, His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, to his second home, Egypt. I would like to express our deep appreciation for the convening of this significant forum, which brings together an elite group of business leaders from Egypt and Uganda.
The convening of this forum embodies the deep bonds and longstanding friendship between our two countries, as well as our firm determination to expand our partnerships in various areas of cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Egypt perceives Uganda as a key partner in the Southern Nile Basin region. We seek to make Uganda one of the largest beneficiaries of Egyptian mechanisms dedicated to supporting development in the Nile Basin countries. We look forward to enhancing the level of economic cooperation and increasing trade, which reached approximately $133 million in 2024. We aspire to double this amount to reflect our shared potential.
In this context, we confirm the importance of accelerating the formation of the Egypt-Uganda Joint Business Council, intensifying the exchange of business delegations, and encouraging companies in both countries to double their exports, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, electrical appliances, among other products that meet the needs of our markets.
Your Excellency, the President,
We consider the convening of this forum, with your esteemed presence, a practical step to translate our strong political relations into tangible projects that benefit our peoples within a framework that achieves mutual gains.
We are convinced that the private sector and entrepreneurs in our two countries must be the true engine of our partnership in the fields of economy, trade, and investment, and that the role of governments is to provide the legal and political frameworks that support the flourishing of these partnerships.
I would like to reiterate that Egypt, as always, extends its hand to Uganda as a partner and friend, within a framework of mutual respect and in a manner that serves our common interests.
I wish this forum success and our bilateral relations every prosperity.
Thank you.
