The President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is in South Africa for a 1-day state visit where he will also speak at the on going two day Uganda -South Africa Business Summit .
The President was received at the Waterloof Airbase by Mrs. Lindiwe Daphney Zulu, South Africa’s Minister of Social Development; Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Jeje Odongo and Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Amoru among others.
The President was expected to meet his counterpart the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, at The Union Buildings, and witness the signing of several bilateral agreements. Both Presidents were to address a press conference at the Union Building and shortly after President Museveni was to visit the Freedom Park where the history of the heroes that fought against Apartheid and for the Independence of South Africa is showcased.
After here, President Museveni and his host, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa were lined up to address the Business Forum of Entrepreneurs from Uganda and South Africa at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. The forum is being attended, among others; by several Ministers and Members of Parliament from Uganda.
The two-day summit has attracted business executives and is meant to provide a platform for government , private sector players to deliberate on the current business environment as the continent recovers from a three year battering Covid -19 pandemic .
Among those entitles that will showcase their products is the Uganda Airlines and its Chief Executive Jennifer Bamuturaki is already in South Africa for the meet. The summit will focus among other tourism , trade and investment , finance , insurance power generation , education infrastructure development and construction plus agro-processing –since Africa can be the food basket for the rest of the world .
The summit comes at the times when trade relations between Uganda and south Africa continue to grow . South Africa has emerged a major trading partner for Uganda with the fastest growing foreign direct investments –especially in the telecom sector , breweries and finance .
Uganda is exporting cotton , gold fish fillet, tobacco , coffee and fresh flowers to South Africa . Already, the two brotherly countries have signed a joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation agreement focusing on the areas of defence , trade and investments , foreign relations , health ,education and agriculture .
Later today the evening President Cyril Ramaphosa will host his guest to a State Dinner at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House. Tomorrow, Wednesday 1st March 2023, President Museveni will hold several business engagements before departure.
