President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hosted the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Rt. Hon. Sam Matekane, at State House, Entebbe on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed deepening the long-standing ties between Uganda and Lesotho.
“We are very glad to have you here in Uganda. While we share a strong brotherhood, we have not fully leveraged our relationship to foster greater cooperation,” President Museveni stated.
He emphasized Uganda’s self-sufficiency in food production, highlighting the country’s abundant agricultural resources.
“We produce a lot of food here. We don’t import any, except for those Europeanized people who import bread and rice. Personally, I don’t eat bread or rice, but we have an abundance of indigenous foods like bananas and millet,” he said.
Museveni also noted that Uganda produces 5.3 billion liters of milk annually, far exceeding the domestic consumption of 800 million liters, and invited Lesotho to explore investment opportunities in Uganda’s dairy sector.
Turning to education, President Museveni offered scholarships to youth from Lesotho to study agriculture in Uganda, expressing a desire to share Uganda’s expertise. He also reflected on the historical connection between the two countries, recalling how many Ugandans found refuge in Lesotho during Idi Amin’s regime.
On medical cooperation, Museveni expressed Uganda’s readiness to collaborate with Lesotho in vaccine production for both humans and animals. He proposed establishing a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize this partnership.
Prime Minister Matekane expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome and highlighted the strong historical ties between Lesotho and Uganda. He praised Uganda’s leadership within the African Union and its efforts in ensuring regional security.
He also commended Uganda’s economic progress, noting that Lesotho looks forward to deepening cooperation in key sectors, including food and livestock production, skills development, and capacity building.
Matekane introduced Lesotho’s candidate for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Joshua Phoho Setipa, to President Museveni, seeking Uganda’s support in the upcoming election. President Museveni expressed his support for Setipa, wishing him good luck.
In conclusion, on behalf of His Majesty King Letsie III, Prime Minister Matekane extended an official invitation to President Museveni to attend Lesotho’s 200th-anniversary commemoration of its founding. He expressed deep gratitude for Uganda’s continued friendship and support.
Among the Ugandan officials in attendance were Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF); Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, Minister of Public Service; Hon. Sarah Mateke, Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs; Lt. Gen. Samuel Okiding, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces; and Ms. Rosette Byengoma, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
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