By Andrew Irumba
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa will host his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for a State Visit to Pretoria on Monday, 28 February 2023.
President Museveni’s visit is directed at consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries, with discussions between the two Heads of State encompassing political, economic, regional, continental, and international issues.
President Museveni will be accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers and a business delegation who will participate in a Business Forum, scheduled to take place from 27 to 28 February 2023.
The Business Forum will offer the private sector in South Africa and Uganda a platform to explore trade and investment opportunities.
The Republic of Uganda is South Africa’s 15th-largest trading partner on the Continent and the second-largest in East Africa.
Between 2017 and 2021, total trade between the two countries reached a peak of S.Africa’s R3 billion, which the two countries agree is well below potential.
South Africa’s exports to the Republic of Uganda increased from S.Africa’s R2.18 billion in 2017 to R3.12 billion in 2018.
The value of South Africa’s imports from Uganda increased from S.Africa’s R127 million in 2017 to R323 million in 2020.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa had more than 70 companies operating in Uganda. Businesses in the two countries are keen to expand their presence in one another’s markets.
The two Heads of State will witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation between the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC), Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL); MoU on Cooperation in Tourism; MoU on Cooperation in Transport Related Matters; MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Communication Technologies; MoU on Cooperation in the field of Correctional Services and Prisons; and the MoU on Cooperation in the fields of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
The last State Visit to the Republic of South Africa by President Museveni took place on 21 and 22 January 2011.
