President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, industrialisation, renewable energy, aquaculture, and sustainable use of the River Nile following high-level talks at State House Entebbe.

The meeting, held during President El-Sisi’s official visit to Uganda, focused on expanding economic ties, enhancing regional security cooperation, and advancing practical development projects aimed at transforming livelihoods in both countries.

President El-Sisi was accompanied by senior Egyptian officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Prof. Hani Sewilam.During the discussions, President Museveni emphasised the need for African countries to pursue practical partnerships that directly address poverty and stimulate economic transformation.

He pointed to environmental degradation, especially wetland encroachment in Uganda, as a growing concern driven by population pressure and limited economic alternatives for rural communities.

Museveni proposed large-scale fish farming as a long-term solution, saying it would generate employment, improve household incomes, boost exports, and reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems.

He explained that shifting communities away from subsistence farming remains central to Uganda’s economic strategy, noting that overdependence on low-productivity agriculture continues to slow development across much of Africa.

According to Museveni, increased investment in manufacturing, services, and renewable energy infrastructure is necessary to create jobs and modernise African economies.

The Ugandan leader also raised concerns about continued instability in several parts of Africa and the Middle East, including conflicts in Libya, Palestine, and tensions involving Iran, calling for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic solutions.

He reflected on Africa’s liberation history and praised the contributions of past leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah, and Julius Nyerere for supporting anti-colonial struggles through continental solidarity efforts.

President El-Sisi praised Museveni’s leadership, describing it as measured and forward-looking at a time when global politics is increasingly shaped by competing interests.He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development priorities, particularly in aquaculture, industrialisation, renewable energy, and value addition.

El-Sisi said Egypt would encourage both public and private sector investment in Uganda’s fish farming industry, with plans to establish modern aquaculture projects aimed at improving production capacity and exports.

He also pledged technical and investment support for Uganda’s renewable energy sector, saying Egyptian expertise could help accelerate energy access and industrial growth.On industrialisation, the Egyptian leader urged African governments to prioritise local processing of raw materials instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.

He identified sectors such as iron ore, copper, leather processing, meat packaging, and fruit processing as major opportunities for industrial expansion and export growth.

To strengthen business cooperation, El-Sisi announced plans for the creation of a Joint Business Council to facilitate trade and investment between Egyptian and Ugandan private sector players.

He also invited President Museveni to participate in the African Business Forum scheduled to take place in Egypt in June 2026.The two leaders further discussed peace and stability in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the wider Horn of Africa, reiterating support for African-led peace initiatives and respect for sovereignty.

On Nile water management, President El-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s growing water scarcity challenges and called for continued cooperation among Nile Basin states to ensure fair and sustainable utilisation of shared water resources.

A joint communiqué issued after the meeting directed relevant institutions from both countries to fast-track implementation of agreements reached during Museveni’s state visit to Egypt in August 2025.

The communiqué also confirmed Egypt’s readiness to support water infrastructure projects in Uganda through the Nile Development Fund and pledged stronger collaboration under continental frameworks including the African Union, African Continental Free Trade Area, and COMESA.Cabinet ministers and senior government officials from both Uganda and Egypt attended the meeting.