The governments of Uganda and South Africa have committed to enhance political, economic and social cooperation.
This is contained in a joint communique issued by Okello Oryem, the Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Naledi Pandor, the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, at the Second Session of the Uganda-South Africa Joint Commission for Cooperation held in Kampala.
The Ministers recommitted their efforts to ensure that the JCC is convened biennially as envisioned in the Agreement and further directed the officials to convene the midterm review on an annual basis, in-between the Sessions of the JCC, to review the status of implementation of decisions and explore new areas of cooperation.
The two Ministers also reviewed and exchanged views on the status of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with progress achieved in various areas of cooperation between the two countries which are contributing to the alleviation of poverty, elimination of inequality and creation of employment.
They hailed the historic, broad and friendly relations that exist between the two countries and emphasised the need to continue working jointly towards enhancing political, economic and social cooperation.
Both Ministers reaffirmed the close bilateral relations, common interests and values that are the foundation of strong cooperation between the two countries.
They said this is desirous to further strengthen the status of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The two Ministers welcomed negotiations of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
This was done under the following areas:
Correctional Services, Tourism; Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Information and Communication and Digital Technologies.
The two Ministers further exchanged views on possible areas of cooperation and collaboration and committed to, among others, address all the impediments that hinder further bilateral cooperation.
The Ministers noted progress made in the following areas of cooperation: trade and investment; customs, immigration; tourism; agriculture, agro-processing, livestock and fisheries; education and human resource development; art, culture and sports; defence and police matters; health; science and technology; energy, oil and gas; mining; and air transport.
The Ministers exchanged views on regional and continental developments and further resolved to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation in multilateral fora.
In this regard, they underscored the importance of continued efforts and commitment to peaceful resolution and dialogue in resolving conflicts.
The Ministers further commended the efforts of regional and sub-regional frameworks aimed at finding lasting solutions to these conflicts which severely impact the lives and livelihood of the people, particularly women and children and threaten the successful implementation of the continental development agenda, that of Silencing the Guns.
The two Ministers noted the important achievements of the African Union since its formation from the erstwhile Organisation of African Unity 20 years ago in Durban, South Africa.
The AU remains the apex Pan-African organization for the continent and its stated mission is as relevant today as at the time of its formation to achieve “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”
To achieve sustainable prosperity, the JCC resolved that both countries should cooperate to expedite the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which has become more critical to bolstering economic recovery efforts on the Continent post the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministers welcomed the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Waiver of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on the production of vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic on June 17, 2022.
This positive development demonstrated the importance of global solidarity and multilateralism in addressing a common cause.
Minister Pandor expressed South Africa’s support for Uganda to host the XIX Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 2023.
The two countries pledged to work closely together in advancing the African Agenda and South-South cooperation in the AU, G77 and NAM.
Both Parties expressed appreciation for the JCC which has provided an excellent platform for dialogue and cooperation.
They further called upon officials of both countries to ensure the expeditious implementation of decisions reached during the JCC.
Minister Pandor also extended an invitation to Minister Odongo Jeje Abubakhar to visit South Africa for the Third Session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation between the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of South Africa, to be held in Pretoria in 2024.
Minister Oryem accepted the invitation and both sides agreed that the exact date shall be confirmed through diplomatic channels.
Minister Pandor appreciated the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to convey a special message from His Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.
They further agreed that Pandor and Hamson Obua would on July 12, 2022, preside over the unveiling ceremony of the statute of the former President of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, in Kampala, which was commissioned in 1997 and in 2004 was renamed after the first democratically elected president of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela.
At the conclusion of the Official Visit, Minister Pandor expressed sincere appreciation and deep gratitude to Minister Oryem, to the Government and to the People of the Republic of Uganda, for the warm reception and gracious hospitality accorded to her and to the entire delegation of the Republic of South Africa during the visit.
