Entebbe, Uganda — Uganda and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations following high-level talks between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at State House Entebbe, with both leaders outlining an ambitious cooperation agenda centred on trade, industrialisation, renewable energy, aquaculture and sustainable management of the River Nile. The official visit by President El-Sisi marks another significant step in the evolving relationship between Kampala and Cairo, at a time when African states are increasingly seeking deeper intra-continental partnerships to drive economic transformation, regional stability and strategic self-reliance.
President El-Sisi was accompanied by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof. Hani Sewilam, alongside senior government officials and business representatives. he discussions reflected both countries’ broader ambitions under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 framework, with emphasis placed on industrial growth, infrastructure development, regional peace and coordinated management of shared natural resources.
Welcoming his Egyptian counterpart, President Museveni emphasized the need for practical and productive partnerships capable of addressing poverty while accelerating socio-economic transformation across Africa. A major focus of the discussions centred on environmental sustainability and the management of the Nile Basin, particularly the growing pressure on wetlands caused by population growth and dependence on subsistence agriculture. President Museveni identified fish farming as a strategic solution capable of simultaneously addressing unemployment, environmental degradation and export diversification. “The biggest help I want from you is fish farming,” President Museveni stated during the bilateral meeting. “Fish is in high demand globally, and this project can help our people move out of subsistence agriculture while also protecting the wetlands.”
The Ugandan President Museveni observed that one of Africa’s persistent development challenges remains overreliance on low-productivity agriculture, with large portions of the population dependent on shrinking land resources. Uganda, he explained, is prioritising industrialisation, manufacturing and services as pathways toward sustainable income generation and economic modernization. He further stressed the importance of electricity access and renewable energy investment as critical drivers of industrial expansion and competitiveness, particularly within rapidly growing African economies. Beyond economic matters, the leaders also exchanged views on regional and international security developments, including instability in Libya, the conflict in Palestine, tensions involving Iran, and ongoing crises in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Museveni reiterated Africa’s responsibility to advocate for dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, warning against prolonged instability and humanitarian suffering across the continent and beyond. Reflecting on Africa’s liberation history, the Ugandan President paid tribute to leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere for their role in supporting anti-colonial movements through the Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee. “We cannot remain silent when people continue to suffer through endless wars and instability,” President Museveni remarked.
President El-Sisi, in turn, congratulated President Museveni on his recent electoral victory and commended Uganda’s leadership on regional and continental matters. “The world today is often driven by interests rather than justice and values, but Your Excellency continues to demonstrate wisdom and balance in leadership,” President El-Sisi said. The Egyptian leader reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development priorities, particularly in aquaculture, renewable energy and industrial value addition. He announced Egypt’s readiness to work with Uganda in establishing modern fish farming projects while mobilising Egyptian investors to participate in Uganda’s aquaculture industry. On energy cooperation, President El-Sisi pledged support for renewable energy development, noting that Egyptian expertise and private sector actors could contribute significantly to Uganda’s expanding energy sector. Industrialisation also featured prominently in the talks, with President El-Sisi urging African countries to move beyond raw material exports and instead prioritize local processing and manufacturing.
He highlighted sectors including iron ore, copper, leather, meat processing and fruit processing as areas capable of generating employment, increasing export earnings and strengthening Africa’s position within global value chains. “The global market is thirsty for these products,” he said. “Africa must process its raw materials and agricultural products to create jobs and generate more income.” In a move aimed at strengthening commercial ties, President El-Sisi announced plans to establish a Uganda–Egypt Joint Business Council to facilitate trade, investment and private sector collaboration between the two nations. He also invited President Museveni to attend the African Business Forum scheduled for June 2026 in Egypt. On Nile cooperation, President El-Sisi acknowledged Egypt’s growing water challenges, revealing that the country’s per capita water availability has fallen below 500 cubic metres annually. He stressed Egypt’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation and equitable utilisation of Nile waters among all basin countries.
A joint communiqué issued after the meeting confirmed that both governments had directed their institutions to operationalise agreements reached during President Museveni’s August 2025 visit to Egypt. Areas identified for accelerated cooperation include agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, water infrastructure and industrial development. Egypt also reaffirmed its readiness to mobilise financing for water-related infrastructure projects in Uganda through the Nile Development Fund. The two leaders further pledged to strengthen cooperation under continental and regional frameworks including the African Union, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area, in support of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
1 thought on “President Museveni and Egypt’s El-Sisi Deepen Uganda–Egypt Partnership on Trade, Industrialisation and Nile Cooperation”