Katumba Wamala, Ethiopia Ambassador Renew Commitment to Air Cooperation

Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, on Tuesday held high-level talks with Etsegenet Yimenu, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepening bilateral aviation and transport cooperation.

The Ambassador was accompanied by Bethelhem Akalu, Area Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, highlighting the central role aviation continues to play in Ethiopia–Uganda relations. Head of Political Affairs at the Ethiopian Embassy, Mr Robel Admassu also accompanied the ambassador.

Ambassador Yimenu spoke of the longstanding historical ties between Addis Ababa and Kampala, recalling Ethiopian Airlines’ frequent flights to Uganda in the 1950s and the signing of a bilateral Air Services Agreement on September 24, 1967 — milestones that laid the foundation for enduring connectivity between the two nations.

Discussions centered on fast-tracking the implementation of the existing Aviation Agreement ahead of and during the upcoming 4th Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between Ethiopian and Ugandan airlines to boost trade, tourism, and investment flows.

The meeting also welcomed progress under the DESSU Corridor Authority agreement, recently signed by Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. The corridor is expected to enhance border trade efficiency, improve transport logistics, and reinforce regional integration by linking the Horn of Africa more closely with East Africa’s markets.

Minister Katumba Wamala reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to expanding air connectivity as a strategic driver of economic transformation, while the Ethiopian side expressed readiness to deepen collaboration on aviation, logistics, and broader regional transport projects.

The engagement signals renewed diplomatic momentum between the two countries, positioning aviation and transport infrastructure as key pillars of economic diplomacy and regional integration.