President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Maama Janet Museveni today welcomed His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini at Entebbe International Airport, marking the beginning of a three-day state visit.
King Mswati III, accompanied by Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama and other high-level delegates, arrived in the country at the invitation of President Museveni.
Upon arrival, the King was honored with a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honor mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). President Museveni, flanked by ministers and service chiefs, then hosted the King at State House Entebbe, where discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
President Museveni highlighted the need for African nations to access larger markets to maximize economic benefits, emphasizing that Africa’s prosperity hinges on producing and selling goods and services.
He also warned against the fragmentation of African markets, comparing Africa’s potential to that of Latin America, which struggles with poverty despite its rich natural resources.
“Africa must integrate its markets to thrive, similar to how the United States benefits from a unified market,” Museveni stated.
He also called for collaborative efforts on capital-intensive projects, citing Uganda’s petroleum sector as an example where East African nations are invited to co-invest in infrastructure such as pipelines and refineries.
Museveni lauded the progress of the East African Community (EAC) in rebuilding and expanding to include eight member states, emphasizing the importance of both economic and political integration. He further advocated for a political federation in East Africa to establish a strong military defense for the continent.
King Mswati III echoed the call for enhanced cooperation between African nations, stressing unity as key to driving the continent’s development. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and underscored the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Eswatini.
“Africa must work together to achieve progress in areas like poverty alleviation, job creation, education, and technological advancement,” King Mswati III said.
He also highlighted the need for African nations to share expertise and technology, citing Uganda’s achievements in crude oil development as a successful collaboration.
King Mswati III proposed regular communication channels between Uganda and Eswatini to strengthen existing ties and avoid neglecting established friendships and agreements. He also suggested establishing distribution centers and routes to facilitate trade between the two nations.
The King further emphasized the importance of cultural ties, proposing the organization of cultural festivals to showcase the similarities between Ugandan and Eswatini cultures, which would also attract tourists. Additionally, he advocated for direct flight routes between Eswatini and Uganda to boost tourism and cargo trade.
During the visit, Uganda and Eswatini solidified their relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on enhancing cooperation in agriculture and other sectors.
The agreement was signed by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, and Eswatini’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Senator Pholile Shakantu.
King Mswati III concluded his visit by extending an invitation to President Museveni for a state visit to Eswatini, underscoring the importance of continued collaboration between the two nations.
“Africa needs to work together to achieve economic independence, and our partnership with Uganda is a step in that direction,” the King remarked.
Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, shares borders with Mozambique and South Africa. The Eswatini delegation included high-level officials such as HRH Princess Lindiwe and Hon. Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade.
On the Ugandan side, key ministers including Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, Minister for the Presidency, Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Mwebesa Francis, Minister of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, and Hon. Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, were in attendance.
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