Kampala – President Yoweri Museveni is set to be hosted by his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa for a State Visit to Pretoria on Monday next week.
According to South Africa’s presidency, 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 backed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Cooperatives, Privatization and Investment is being coordinated by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
It will offer the private sector in South Africa and Uganda a platform to explore trade and investment opportunities.
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 R3 billion, which the two countries agree is well below potential.
South Africa’s exports to Uganda increased from R2.18 billion in 2017 to R3.12 billion in 2018.
The value of South Africa’s imports from Uganda increased from 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.
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel; the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan; the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza; the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe; the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula; the Minister of Tourism, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu; the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Khumbuzo Ntshavheni; the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise; the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
The last State Visit to the Republic of South Africa by President Museveni took place on 21 and 22 January 2011.