The presidents of Egypt and Uganda discuss strengthening peace and security in Africa.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President of the Republic Egypt Arabic, an official visit to the Republic UgandaOn Wednesday, at the invitation of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was accompanied by Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, and Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The two heads of state held fruitful and friendly bilateral talks in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, reflecting the depth of the historical and fraternal relations that unite Uganda and Egypt. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, congratulated President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, on his victory in the presidential elections in a free, fair and transparent electoral process.

The two leaders renewed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening strategic partnerships between the two countries, in order to achieve tangible gains for their people.

Directives to implement the outcomes of Museveni's visit to Egypt

In this context, the two leaders directed the relevant authorities in both countries to activate the results of the historic visit made by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to Egypt in August 2025, and to build on previous joint agreements and statements to achieve mutual benefit for their peoples.

Recognizing their leadership roles in the African Union and the Global South, the two leaders pledged to work – through close coordination – to defend African interests on the international stage, including calling for a more just and equitable global governance structure, including reform of the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus, as well as reform of international financial institutions.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation to advance peace, development and integration, and to achieve the goals set out in both Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through cooperation in relevant regional, continental and international forums, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, the African Union and the United Nations.

The two presidents expressed their satisfaction with the growing economic relations between the two countries, and directed the relevant authorities in both countries to prioritize trade and investment in the sectors with the greatest impact, including agricultural manufacturing, pharmaceutical industries, renewable energy, integrated water resources management, and critical infrastructure.

Reaffirming the role of the private sector as the main driver of economic transformation, the two leaders welcomed the fruitful results of the “Invest in Uganda” forum, which was recently held in Cairo in April 2026, and directed that the Egyptian-Ugandan Business Forum be organized on the sidelines of the next meeting of the Joint Standing Committee in Kampala in August 2026. They also directed the relevant authorities to expedite the establishment of a joint business council to facilitate trade smoothly.

Discussions to promote peace and security in Africa

The two leaders discussed various efforts to promote peace and security in East Africa, the Great Lakes region, and the Horn of Africa.

In this regard, they exchanged views on the situations in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and renewed their support for the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, including African-led processes, and adherence to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Charter of the United Nations.

The two heads of state emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable hydropower development to achieve industrialization and socio-economic transformation, while preserving the integrity of ecosystems and watersheds, which are fundamental to the long-term availability of water resources in the Nile Basin. In this context, the Egyptian side reiterated its readiness to finance and mobilize funding for water infrastructure projects in the Nile Basin in Uganda, through the Egyptian mechanism for studying and financing projects in Nile Basin countries, to achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the sustainable management of water resources and to strengthening interconnectedness across the Nile Basin through enhanced cooperation. In this context, they agreed to advance action on integrated water resources management, the protection of watersheds, and climate-resilient water infrastructure to ensure reliable river flows for essential human needs, hydroelectric power generation, agriculture, and domestic use, consistent with the commitment to not cause significant harm and the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization.

The two leaders welcomed the progress report of the Nile Basin Initiative Special Committee, tasked with engaging with Nile Basin Initiative countries that have not ratified the “Framework Agreement”, and renewed their commitment to supporting continued engagement efforts aimed at promoting consensus, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation among Nile Basin countries.

The two leaders stressed the importance of continuing to implement existing bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, and directed the relevant authorities to accelerate negotiations on cooperation instruments expected to be finalized in areas of common interest, including the memorandum of understanding on cooperation on migration issues, and the labor agreement.

President Sisi renewed the invitation to President Museveni to participate in the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, which will be held in El Alamein, Egypt on June 27, 2026, and in the African Business Forum scheduled to be held on its sidelines, with the participation of senior representatives of the Ugandan private sector.