Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, met on October 31 with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe, where he delivered a message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressing the importance of enhancing the strong historical relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them in all fields.
During the meeting, Minister Abdel Aati stressed the depth of relations between the two countries, and the importance Egypt attaches to developing frameworks for bilateral cooperation with Uganda at various levels, highlighting Egypt’s interest in strengthening bilateral relations in the economic and development fields, especially since there is a broad framework of cooperation between the two countries reflected in the opening of a number of cooperation projects during the past two years, including the Egyptian Medical Center in Jinja, the solar power station in Busia, the establishment of a number of rainwater harvesting tanks, and other projects, in addition to the presence of about 25 Egyptian companies operating in Uganda with total investments approaching $100 million. Minister Abdel Aati also referred to the new investment mechanism for projects in the sister Nile Basin countries that Egypt recently announced to finance infrastructure projects, including water projects in the southern Nile Basin countries, noting Egypt’s keenness to consult with the Ugandan side regarding the list of Ugandan projects being prepared to study ways to provide funding for their implementation, as well as to explore opportunities for tripartite cooperation with other development agencies and partners. The meeting also discussed joint cooperation programs between the two countries in all fields, especially the programs and projects supervised by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, in the field of capacity building and training Ugandan cadres.
On the other hand, the meeting addressed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, as the two sides touched on the recent developments in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, especially the situations in Sudan and Somalia, where the Minister stressed Egypt’s desire to enhance regional integration and cooperation between the sisterly Nile Basin countries in a way that strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and supports development between African brothers and avoids unilateral measures that violate the rules of international law.
For his part, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed his great appreciation for Egypt and its leadership, and asked to convey his greetings to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, noting that his country attaches great importance to strengthening its relations with Egypt and is keen to continue coordination and consultation between the two sides on all issues of common interest.
