President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday evening received 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, held at State House Entebbe, underscored the strengthening relationship between the two nations. President Museveni warmly welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and expressed gratitude for the UAE’s longstanding friendship with Uganda.
“I welcome you to Uganda and thank you and your government for being ready to work with us,” the President said.
Highlighting Uganda’s historical ties with the Arab world, President Museveni recalled collaborations dating back to the 1950s. “Our work with Arab countries is not new. We started with mainly North Africa—Egypt during our struggle for independence, then Algeria after their liberation, and later with Libya. With Saudi Arabia, we’ve had cultural relations,” he said.
He noted that during his 2014 visit to the UAE, he recognized significant potential for cooperation, especially in manufacturing, agro-processing, mineral development, infrastructure, tourism, and defense.
President Museveni encouraged UAE companies to explore investment opportunities in Uganda. He particularly pointed to sectors like road toll infrastructure that could connect Uganda with regional markets, emphasizing the complementary potential between the two countries.
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 relations and establishing mutually beneficial development partnerships that align with both countries’ goals for sustainable growth.
The visit culminated in the signing of six key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Uganda and the UAE. These included:
- MoU on Works and Transport
- MoU on Diplomatic Training and Capacity Building
- Visa Exemption Agreement
- Joint Development Agreement
- MoU on E-Government and Digital Transformation
- MoU on Investment Protection
These agreements mark a significant step forward in Uganda-UAE relations, setting the stage for expanded collaboration in vital sectors.
