Summary:
- King Mswati III is in Uganda for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of President Museveni, accompanied by his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama, and a delegation of high-level officials.
KAMPALA: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni on Wednesday welcomed His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini at Entebbe International Airport.
King Mswati III is in Uganda for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of President Museveni, accompanied by his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama, and a delegation of high-level officials.
At the airport, President Museveni, flanked by Ministers and service chiefs, greeted the visiting monarch, who was accorded a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The formal discussions between the two leaders took place at State House Entebbe, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
President Museveni shared his vision for African prosperity, emphasizing the importance of producing and selling goods and services as the path to wealth.
He highlighted the challenges of Africa’s fragmented markets and underscored the need for larger, unified markets to maximize economic benefits.
“The fragmentation of the African market is a big disaster,” President Museveni warned, drawing comparisons with Latin America, which, despite its resources, continues to struggle with poverty due to its divided markets.
He advocated for African nations to not only produce but also own and share in the benefits of their resources, urging for more collaborative investment in capital-intensive projects.
President Museveni praised the progress of the East African Community (EAC) in both economic and political integration and reiterated the importance of a political federation for a stronger military defense in Africa.
King Mswati III echoed these sentiments, calling for enhanced cooperation among African nations to drive development. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Eswatini. He emphasized the need for regular communication to strengthen ties and proposed increased cooperation in areas such as poverty alleviation, job creation, education, and technology.
King Mswati III also pointed out Africa’s abundant natural resources and the need to improve efficiency in their use by collaborating on technology and expertise. He proposed the establishment of distribution centers and trade routes between Uganda and Eswatini, as well as cultural festivals to promote tourism and strengthen cultural ties.
The King further advocated for the opening of direct flight routes between Eswatini and Uganda to boost tourism and cargo trade. He also expressed support for Uganda’s leadership in hosting the African Union’s Humanitarian Agency and congratulated President Museveni on Uganda’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and the G77+China group.
The visit saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, solidifying their relationship. The agreement was signed by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, and Eswatini’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Senator Pholile Shakantu. The two countries’ agriculture ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation in the agricultural sector.
King Mswati III concluded his visit by extending an invitation to President Museveni for a State Visit to Eswatini, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between the two nations. “Africa needs to work together to achieve economic independence, and our partnership with Uganda is a step in that direction,” he stated.
The Eswatini delegation included high-level officials such as HRH Princess Lindiwe and Hon. Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade. Uganda’s delegation included Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, Minister for the Presidency; Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation; Hon. Mwebesa Francis, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives; and Hon. Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport.
