The 12th Session of the Uganda–Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) has officially commenced in Kampala, bringing together senior government officials from Uganda and Rwanda to deepen bilateral cooperation and review progress across key sectors.
The three-day meeting, running from April 20 to 22, marks the first JPC session since the 11th meeting held in Kigali in March 2023. The forum serves as the principal mechanism for structured engagement between the two neighbouring countries on political, economic, and security matters.
In opening remarks, Uganda’s Head of Delegation, Ambassador Richard T. Kabonero, welcomed the Rwandan delegation and reaffirmed the strong historical, cultural, and geographic ties that bind the two nations. He noted that despite the three-year gap since the last JPC, cooperation has continued to grow in areas such as defence, security, energy, infrastructure, and regional integration.
Kabonero also highlighted emerging cross-border challenges—ranging from pandemics and climate change to cybercrime and wildlife trafficking—urging both sides to adopt innovative and collaborative solutions. He emphasized that the session should focus on identifying new opportunities in science, technology, and aviation to benefit citizens of both countries.
The Rwandan delegation, led by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, expressed appreciation for Uganda’s hospitality and underscored the importance of the JPC as a reflection of strong political will from both governments.
Speaking at the Senior Officials’ Session, Rwanda’s Director General for Africa Affairs, Teta Gisa, said the meeting will take stock of progress made since 2023 and review cooperation across key sectors including trade, immigration, justice, infrastructure, energy, ICT, and defence.
She added that discussions will also explore expanding collaboration into new priority areas such as health, education, agriculture, and local government, with a focus on delivering tangible outcomes that improve livelihoods and accelerate regional integration.
The JPC will culminate in meetings at the level of Permanent Secretaries and Ministers, where key resolutions and agreements are expected to be adopted.
The session comes amid ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance cooperation under regional frameworks such as the Northern Corridor Integration Projects, signaling a continued commitment to stability and shared prosperity in the region.
