Entebbe, Uganda – H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held bilateral talks with H.E Abdel Fattah El-Sisi president of the Arab Republic of Egypt at State House Entebbe, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Uganda–Egypt relations through expanded cooperation in trade, industrialisation, renewable energy, aquaculture and sustainable management of the River Nile. President El-Sisi, who is on an official visit to Uganda, was accompanied by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam.
The bilateral discussions focused on advancing economic transformation, regional peace and security, water resource management and deeper cooperation under continental integration frameworks. President Museveni welcomed the Egyptian delegation and emphasised the importance of practical partnerships that directly improve livelihoods and accelerate socio-economic development across Africa. President Museveni highlighted environmental degradation and increasing pressure on wetlands within the Nile Basin, attributing much of the challenge to population growth and overdependence on subsistence agriculture. He proposed large-scale fish farming as a sustainable solution capable of generating employment, increasing exports and protecting fragile ecosystems. President Museveni further stressed that Uganda’s development strategy prioritises industrialisation, manufacturing and services as pathways toward reducing poverty and expanding household incomes. He underscored the central role of electricity and renewable energy in supporting industrial growth and economic modernisation.
On his part, President El-Sisi congratulated President Museveni on his electoral victory and commended Uganda’s leadership on regional peace and economic transformation. He reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to support Uganda’s development priorities through investments in fish farming, renewable energy, value addition and infrastructure development. The Egyptian leader also encouraged African countries to prioritise processing raw materials locally instead of exporting them in unprocessed form. He identified sectors such as leather, meat processing, iron ore, copper and fruit processing as strategic industries capable of creating jobs and boosting export earnings across the continent.
The two Heads of State further agreed to establish a Joint Business Council aimed at promoting trade and investment between Uganda and Egypt while strengthening private sector partnerships. President El-Sisi also invited President Museveni to attend the African Business Forum scheduled to take place in Egypt in June 2026. On regional affairs, the two leaders discussed the security situation in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Horn of Africa, reiterating support for African-led peace processes, dialogue and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Regarding Nile cooperation, President El-Sisi noted Egypt’s growing water scarcity challenges and emphasised the importance of equitable and sustainable utilisation of shared water resources among Nile Basin countries.
A joint communiqué issued after the meeting indicated that both countries would operationalise the outcomes of President Museveni’s August 2025 visit to Egypt and expand cooperation in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, infrastructure and water management. Egypt also reaffirmed its willingness to finance water-related infrastructure projects in Uganda through the Nile Development Fund. The two leaders additionally pledged to strengthen collaboration under frameworks including the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, in line with Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Photo Credit: PPU
