Kampala – The newly appointed ambassador to Pretoria, South Africa Paul Amoru Omiat has pledged to push for the expansion of markets for Uganda’s agricultural products to Southern Africa as he embarks on his tour of duty.
The Ugandan Embasy in South Africa covers Botswana, the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini and Lesotho, Namiba and Zimbabwe.
While speaking to reporters after being approved by the Parliament Appointments Committee as Ugandan Ambassador to South Africa on Friday, the former Dokolo North MP said top on his agenda is to work to improve the capacity and quality of Ugandan agricultural products that are going to the Southern Africa.
“Commercial and economic diplomacy is very important, if you checked the statistics over the last five years, over 80% of our exports to Southern Africa is largely agricultural products and vegetables that’s where we have a competitive advantage.” Said Amoru
He added: “It’s now our role to structure these engagements, work with firms in Uganda who have already gained access in that market, connect with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to support our drive.”
Ambassador Amoru also said the mission will explore new opportunities for South Africans who would want to invest in Uganda especially in the area of agriculture among other fields.
“We will try to narrow the gap with in the trade balance between Uganda and Southern Africa. There are areas that we haven’t yet exploited especially in agriculture and also other fields like tourism and ICT among others, ” he noted, adding:
“One of the ways we are going to quickly reach Ugandans in the diaspora is for us to embrace the digital transformation and ensure that we have applications that make it easy for investors, traders and our citizens in Southern Africa to engage with us and receive feedback or support of any nature within the shortest time possible.”
Ambassador Amoru replaces Barbara Nekesa Oundo who was last year appointed the new national treasurer for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Amoru was part of the 14 newly appointed Ambassadors to Uganda’s Missions abroad that were vetted and approved by the Parliament Appointments Committee on Friday.
The others were former Amolator District woman MP, Doreen Amuru, who is ambassador to France, Ambassador Nusura Tiperu Omar, the former MP in the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) who has been posted to Ankara, Turkey and Judith Nsababeera, who will represent Uganda in Guangzhou, China.
These are part of the 37 Ambassadors and four Deputy Ambassadors that were appointed by President Museveni in December last year.
