Entebbe, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Italy, particularly in coffee development, trade and investment, infrastructure, and skills development. President Museveni made the remarks during a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mauro Massoni, who briefed the President on the progress of cooperation between Uganda and Italy and ongoing initiatives aimed at deepening relations between the two countries.
Amb. Massoni informed President Museveni that an Italian delegation was expected to visit Uganda, led by the Secretary General of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whom the President had previously met. The delegation is expected to include representatives from Italy’s development and export finance sector, as well as traders and business leaders. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the Italian delegation to engage with their Ugandan counterparts, explore areas of mutual interest, and identify opportunities for deeper economic cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.
Amb. Massoni also briefed President Museveni on preparations for the Uganda Business Forum, which is scheduled to take place in Rome in October. The forum is expected to provide a platform for businesses from both countries to engage, explore investment opportunities, and strengthen commercial relations between Uganda and Italy. The Amb. further updated the President on ongoing discussions regarding a coffee development project aimed at supporting Uganda’s coffee sector, with particular focus on smallholder farmers. The initiative was expected to contribute to strengthening cooperation in the coffee industry while supporting farmers and creating opportunities for further development of the sector.
Their discussions also covered infrastructure development and investment opportunities, including the Tororo Cement project. President Museveni expressed interest in initiatives aimed at strengthening Uganda’s regional transport and trade connectivity, particularly through improved links to the railway network towards Tanzania.
The Italian delegation is also expected to participate in preparations for the groundbreaking of a Coffee House at Kyambogo University, further highlighting the growing cooperation between Uganda and Italy in the coffee sector. The initiative was expected to complement broader efforts to promote knowledge, skills and development within Uganda’s coffee industry. In the area of skills development and healthcare, Amb. Massoni informed President Museveni that doctors from Lubowa Hospital were undertaking training in Italy. The initiative represented another area of practical cooperation between the two countries and provided an opportunity for knowledge and skills transfer.
The discussions demonstrated the expanding scope of Uganda-Italy relations, covering economic cooperation, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, skills development and private-sector partnerships.
President Museveni thanked Amb. Massoni for the briefing and welcomed the ongoing efforts to broaden and deepen cooperation between Uganda and Italy. He also welcomed continued partnerships with Italian companies in areas of mutual interest, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic and commercial relations with Italy.
