Uganda, Qatar Discuss Labour & Education Cooperation

Doha, State of Qatar | 26 July 2026

The Republic of Uganda and the State of Qatar have agreed to deepen their longstanding bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in investment, trade, humanitarian assistance, education, labour and institutional partnership following high-level discussions between H.E. Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, and H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, held in Doha on Sunday.

The meeting was held to enable the Acting Minister to deliver a special written message from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, following the passing of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Prime Minister received the message on behalf of His Highness the Amir and undertook to personally deliver it at the earliest opportunity.

At the outset of the meeting, Hon. Haruna Kasolo conveyed President Museveni’s heartfelt condolences and those of the Government and People of Uganda to His Highness the Amir, the Royal Family, the Government and the People of Qatar. He prayed that Almighty Allah grants the late Father Amir eternal peace in Jannatul Firdaus and comforts the people of Qatar during this period of mourning.

Receiving the message, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman expressed sincere appreciation to President Museveni for the condolence message and praised the President for his longstanding friendship, solidarity and genuine affection towards the State of Qatar. He described Uganda’s gesture as a powerful demonstration of the close and brotherly relations between the two countries.

Hon. Kasolo also conveyed President Museveni’s warm greetings to His Highness the Amir and renewed the President’s invitation for the Amir to undertake an official visit to Uganda at a mutually convenient time. He noted that such a visit would further elevate the already excellent bilateral relations into a comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the invitation and undertook to convey it to His Highness the Amir.

The discussions focused extensively on strengthening bilateral cooperation. Uganda welcomed the establishment of the resident Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kampala and requested the early convening of the Uganda–Qatar Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) to review existing cooperation and identify new areas of collaboration. In response, the Prime Minister pledged to designate a team from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work closely with Uganda towards convening the Commission at the earliest opportunity.

During the discussions, Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune acknowledged the significant contribution of Ambassador Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy to the State of Qatar, in promoting and consolidating the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Uganda and the State of Qatar. He commended Ambassador Ssemuddu’s sustained diplomatic engagement, which has contributed to strengthening political relations, facilitating high-level exchanges and advancing President Museveni’s policy of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy in Qatar and the wider Gulf region. In response, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani expressed appreciation for Ambassador Ssemuddu’s constructive engagement and recognised his contribution to the continued growth and strengthening of Uganda–Qatar relations.

Hon Haruna Kasolo (2nd R) with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani (R) also pictured is Ambassador Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu (2nd L), Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy to the State of Qatar

The Acting Minister highlighted Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy policy under the leadership of President Museveni and invited Qatari investors to take advantage of Uganda’s strategic location as a gateway to East Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He outlined investment opportunities in agriculture, food security, mining, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, tourism and value addition.

Welcoming the proposal, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman announced that Qatar would identify and dispatch an investment delegation to Uganda to assess investment opportunities and work with the Government of Uganda in developing practical frameworks for economic cooperation.

The two sides also discussed the establishment of a Uganda–Qatar Business Forum aimed at translating the excellent political relations between the two countries into stronger trade, investment and private sector partnerships. The Prime Minister welcomed the proposal and pledged Qatar’s full support for the initiative.

In the area of development cooperation, Uganda requested expanded collaboration with leading Qatari humanitarian institutions, including the Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent, particularly in education, healthcare, water supply, vocational training and community development. The Prime Minister expressed Qatar’s readiness to expand cooperation in these priority sectors.

The meeting also reviewed cooperation in education and labour. Uganda expressed appreciation for the scholarships and employment opportunities extended to Ugandan students and workers in Qatar, while both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in higher education, skills development and labour mobility for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Hon. Haruna Kasolo thanked the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality accorded to the Ugandan delegation since its arrival in Doha and reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its friendship and strategic partnership with the State of Qatar.

In his closing remarks, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman thanked the Acting Minister and his delegation for travelling to Doha to represent President Museveni and the people of Uganda during Qatar’s time of mourning. He reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to deepening its longstanding relations with Uganda and expressed confidence that the commitments reached during the meeting would usher in a new phase of cooperation between the two countries.

The discussions reaffirmed the shared vision of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to transform the excellent political relations between Uganda and Qatar into a comprehensive Strategic Partnership that delivers tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries through increased investment, trade, technology transfer, skills development and sustainable development cooperation.

The successful mission further advanced President Museveni’s policy of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy by consolidating Uganda’s strategic partnership with the State of Qatar and opening new avenues for investment, trade, humanitarian cooperation and institutional collaboration. It also reaffirmed the enduring friendship, mutual respect and shared commitment of Uganda and Qatar to peace, prosperity and sustainable development, marking another important milestone in the steadily growing relations between the two brotherly nations.