Mestil Hotel, Kampala | Uganda will host the 12th Ordinary Session of the Uganda–Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) from 20 to 22 April 2026 at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
Organised in collaboration with the Uganda High Commission in Kigali, the Session will follow established bilateral frameworks and will be conducted in phases—beginning with Technical Officials, followed by Senior Officials, and concluding with a Ministerial Segment where outcomes will be adopted and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed.
According to Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Head of the Regional Economic Cooperation Department, discussions will focus on key areas including defence and security, cross-border infrastructure, migration management, police cooperation, and education and human capital development. The meeting is expected to bring together over 15 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from Uganda and their counterparts from Rwanda.
In line with the JPC framework, Technical Officials will review progress on the implementation of MoUs and agreed minutes from the 11th Session held in Kigali in 2023. They will also identify new areas of cooperation, strengthen trade and investment facilitation, and explore joint development initiatives.
Ambassador Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Robert Rusoke, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kigali, noted that Rwanda remains a key trade and investment partner for Uganda within the East African Community. Provisional figures for September 2025 show Uganda’s exports to Rwanda at USD 22.37 million, compared to Rwanda’s exports to Uganda of approximately USD 1.2 million.
Uganda’s exports to Rwanda largely include agricultural products such as pineapples, Irish potatoes, mangoes, and sorghum, alongside manufactured goods including plastics and construction materials. Rwanda’s exports to Uganda mainly consist of sugar, cement, maize flour, and other agricultural, mineral, and manufactured products.
Uganda’s delegation will be led by the Honourable John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), who will serve as Head of Delegation and Principal Signatory. Rwanda’s delegation will be led by the Honourable Dr Usta Kaitesi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The 12th Session reflects the strong and enduring ties between Uganda and Rwanda, and reaffirms both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation through structured engagement. It also highlights a shared determination to implement agreed commitments, address cross-border challenges, and promote mutual prosperity in line with regional integration goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.