President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, industrialisation, renewable energy, fish farming and sustainable management of the River Nile following bilateral talks held at State House, Entebbe.
President El-Sisi, who is on an official visit to Uganda, was accompanied by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr Badr Abdelatty, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof. Hani Sewilam.
The discussions focused on enhancing Uganda-Egypt relations, regional peace and security, economic transformation and water resource management.
Welcoming the Egyptian leader, President Museveni called for practical partnerships aimed at fighting poverty and accelerating socio-economic transformation across Africa.
President Museveni highlighted environmental degradation and encroachment on wetlands as one of the major challenges affecting the Nile Basin, attributing the problem to population pressure and limited economic opportunities.
He proposed large-scale fish farming as part of the solution, saying aquaculture could create jobs, protect wetlands and boost export earnings.
“The biggest help I want from you is fish farming. Fish is in high demand globally, and this project can help our people move out of subsistence agriculture while also protecting the wetlands,” President Museveni said.
The President noted that overdependence on low-productivity agriculture remains one of the key indicators of underdevelopment in Africa.
He explained that Uganda’s long-term strategy is to transition more citizens into manufacturing and services to reduce pressure on land while increasing household incomes.
President Museveni also stressed the importance of electricity and renewable energy in driving industrialisation and economic growth.
On regional affairs, the President expressed concern over instability in Libya, the conflict in Palestine and tensions involving Iran, saying Africa should continue advocating for peaceful dialogue and negotiated solutions.
Reflecting on Africa’s liberation history, President Museveni praised leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere for supporting independence struggles across the continent through the Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee.
“We cannot remain silent when people continue to suffer through endless wars and instability,” President Museveni said.
President El-Sisi congratulated President Museveni upon his recent election victory and commended his leadership.
“The world today is often driven by interests rather than justice and values, but Your Excellency continues to demonstrate wisdom and balance in leadership,” President El-Sisi said.
The Egyptian leader reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development agenda, particularly in fish farming, renewable energy, industrialisation and value addition.
He said Egypt would work with Uganda to establish modern aquaculture projects and encourage Egyptian investors to invest in Uganda’s fish farming sector.
President El-Sisi also pledged support for Uganda’s renewable energy sector through Egyptian expertise and private investment.
On industrialisation, the Egyptian President urged African countries to prioritise value addition instead of exporting raw materials.
He identified iron ore, copper, leather, meat processing and fruit processing as sectors with major potential for industrial growth and export earnings.
“The global market is thirsty for these products. Africa must process its raw materials and agricultural products to create jobs and generate more income,” President El-Sisi said.
He further announced plans to establish a Joint Business Council aimed at strengthening trade and investment partnerships between Uganda and Egypt.
President El-Sisi also invited President Museveni to attend the African Business Forum scheduled to take place in Egypt in June 2026.
The two leaders also discussed peace and security in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Horn of Africa, reaffirming support for African-led peace processes, dialogue and respect for sovereignty.
On Nile cooperation, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt faces severe water scarcity, with annual per capita water availability dropping below 500 cubic metres.
He stressed that Egypt remains committed to dialogue and cooperation with Nile Basin countries and called for sustainable and equitable utilisation of shared water resources.
In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the two leaders directed their institutions to operationalise outcomes from President Museveni’s August 2025 visit to Egypt and deepen cooperation in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, water management and infrastructure development.
The communiqué also stated that Egypt reaffirmed its readiness to finance and mobilise funding for water-related infrastructure projects in Uganda through the Nile Development Fund.
The leaders further agreed to strengthen cooperation under regional and continental frameworks, including the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and COMESA, in line with Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Several cabinet ministers and senior officials from both Uganda and Egypt attended the bilateral meeting.