President Museveni Meets UAE Foreign Minister, Strengthens Bilateral Cooperation
During the meeting at State House Entebbe, President Museveni praised the longstanding ties between Uganda and Arab nations and called for increased investment by UAE companies in sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing, infrastructure, and tourism.
On the evening of May 8, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni welcomed His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during a one-day official visit to Uganda.
The meeting took place at State House Entebbe, where President Museveni extended a warm welcome to Sheikh Abdullah and expressed gratitude to the UAE government for its enduring friendship with Uganda.
“I welcome you to Uganda and appreciate your government’s willingness to cooperate with us,” President Museveni said.
He highlighted Uganda’s long history of collaboration with Arab nations, beginning with North African countries like Egypt in the 1950s during the struggle for independence, followed by Algeria after its own liberation, and later Libya. He also acknowledged cultural ties with Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on his 2014 visit to the UAE, President Museveni noted the vast potential for partnership in key sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing, mineral development, infrastructure, tourism, services, and defense. He encouraged UAE companies to explore investment opportunities in Uganda, particularly in infrastructure projects like road tolls, which could enhance regional trade connectivity and tap into the economic potential of neighboring markets.
In response, Sheikh Abdullah conveyed warm greetings from the UAE leadership and extended best wishes for Uganda’s continued development and prosperity. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to deepening trade and cooperation with Uganda, emphasizing the importance of forging robust development partnerships that align with the mutual goals of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
The meeting concluded with the signing of six key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. These included agreements in the areas of Works and Transport, Diplomatic Training and Capacity Building, Visa Exemption, Joint Development, E-Government and Digital Transformation, and Investment Protection.
