Egypt and Uganda held a second round of bilateral political consultations on Wednesday, focusing on strengthening cooperation and addressing shared concerns. The talks, held between Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Henry Okello, aimed to enhance the already strong relationship between the two countries.
Minister Abdelatty, according to a statement from Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, underscored the deep historical ties between Egypt and Uganda, noting their shared interests and fraternal bonds.
He stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in economic development, trade, and investment for the benefit of both nations.
Abdelatty also highlighted the significant contributions of Egyptian companies to Africa’s construction, engineering, and energy sectors and emphasised the need to modernise joint cooperation mechanisms to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.
The ministers discussed several regional security issues, including the situations in the Great Lakes region, the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa.
They agreed on the need for continued efforts to counter terrorism through a comprehensive strategy addressing its security, developmental, and ideological dimensions. This includes support for Al-Azhar University’s imam training programmes in Uganda and combating transnational crime affecting African communities.
Further discussion included coordinating efforts to reform and develop the African Union and collaborating between African and Southern Hemisphere nations to overcome major challenges in peace, security, and sustainable development. Both countries agreed to support each other’s candidacies in regional and international forums.
Water security and the shared Nile River also featured prominently in the discussions. The ministers reaffirmed Egypt’s ongoing commitment to supporting development in fellow Nile Basin countries, including water projects in Uganda such as the Owen Falls Dam.
They emphasised the importance of managing transboundary cooperation on the Nile River in accordance with international law, including principles of prior notification, consultation, consensus-building, and the avoidance of harm. This commitment aligns with established international obligations and practices.
Okello, announced that he and his Egyptian counterpart had held productive discussions, including on increasing bilateral trade.
During a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty, Okello stated, “We value the opportunities provided by Egypt and the scholarships offered to Ugandan students.”
He further added that Uganda is keen to strengthen cooperation with Egypt across all sectors and areas.
In October, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Chief of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Both sides confirmed their mutual desire to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially in the military sphere.
Al-Sisi and Muhoozi Kainerugaba addressed regional and continental situations and ways to enhance joint cooperation and development efforts among African countries. The discussion focused on the Nile Basin countries, the Horn of Africa, and East Africa, with the goal of achieving the common interests of all African nations.
