Museveni Receives Special Message from Ramaphosa

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday received a special message from His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa, at State House Entebbe.

The message was delivered by Ms. Ayanda Dlodlo, the special envoy of President Ramaphosa. She was accompanied by Ms. Tshabalala Bajabulile Swazi, the former Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), who is currently seeking support for her candidacy for the presidency of the AfDB.

President Museveni warmly welcomed the delegation and engaged in discussions on key matters of mutual interest between Uganda and South Africa. The talks covered bilateral cooperation, economic development, and strategic partnerships between the two nations.

Ms. Tshabalala used the opportunity to outline her vision for the AfDB, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the bank’s role in financing infrastructure projects, industrialization, and economic transformation across Africa. She also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among African nations to address pressing financial and development challenges.

President Museveni pledged Uganda’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with South Africa and enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and regional stability.

Uganda is South Africa’s 15th-largest trading partner in Africa and the second largest in East Africa, according to South African government figures.

Between 2017 and 2021, total trade between the two countries reached a peak of $162 million. South Africa’s exports to the Republic of Uganda amounted to $169 million in 2018, while its imports from Uganda increased from $6.8 million in 2017 to $17.5 million in 2020.

Also, Uganda and South Africa, are part of efforts under the EAC-SADC arrangement to find a lasting solution to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), that has left many dead and thousands displaced. South Africa, just like Uganda, has troops in the DRC in a bid to pacify the east of the country.