Uganda, Ethiopia Deepen Strategic Ties as Joint Commission Review Nears

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — September 4, 2026: Uganda and Ethiopia are advancing preparations for the mid-term review of their Joint Permanent Commission as the two countries seek to deepen bilateral cooperation and coordinate on regional and multilateral issues.

Uganda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Rebecca Amuge Otengo, held talks this afternoon with Amb. Zerihun Abebe, Director-General for African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and multilateral matters, with preparations for the upcoming mid-term review of the Uganda-Ethiopia Joint Permanent Commission taking particular focus.

The Joint Permanent Commission provides a framework for the two countries to assess existing areas of cooperation and identify new opportunities for collaboration across political, economic and other strategic sectors.

Ambassador Rotengo was accompanied by Minister-Counsellor Margaret Kafeero and First Secretary Daphine Nyanduri.

The latest diplomatic engagement builds on the fourth session of the Ethiopia-Uganda Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), which concluded in Addis Ababa on April 4, 2025, with the signing of a record eight bilateral cooperation agreements.

Established in 1993, the JMC is a biennial mechanism that provides a platform for Uganda and Ethiopia to review bilateral relations and advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The 2025 session marked the resumption of the commission after a six-year hiatus.

The discussions were organised around three broad areas: political and diplomatic affairs; defence and security cooperation; and economic development, underscoring the breadth of the relationship between Kampala and Addis Ababa.