Africa-Press – Uganda. SWAZILAND|KING|ESWATINE
KAMPALA – King Mswati III of Swaziland has appointed businessman Quillino Bamwine as the first honorary consul of Swaziland in Uganda.Bamwine this week presented his official documents of a consul from Mswati to the state minister for foreign affairs, Henry Okello Oryem in Kampala.Swaziland was in April 2018 renamed eSwatini by the king who rules by decree over his million subjects, most of whom live in the countryside and follow traditional ways of life.”He now becomes the official representative of eSwatini here. He will be doing functions of an ordinary diplomat. He will protect and promote the interests of eSwatini in Uganda,” Oryem told journalists at his office. The minister noted that just like other countries, eSwatini appointed an honorary consul because it can’t afford to establish a fully-fledged embassy here.”So for all intents and purposes, Bamwine is more or less eSwatini ambassador to Uganda except that he won’t be enjoying some privileges and immunities of an ambassador,” he said.”So the eSwatini citizens who live in Uganda as of today he is their official representative, looking after their interests. On the side of the Uganda government, we will as of today go through him on all interests regarding eSwatini,” Oryem said.He said Bamwine is a Ugandan who was appointed by the king after carefully evaluating him that he can represent the kingdom’s interests here and also promote its interests. This is the first time the eSwatini is establishing a consulate in Uganda.
“So I am happy for him being the first appointed eSwatini consul in Uganda. This now brings Uganda-eSwatini closer because direct contact between the two countries has always been difficult. We are glad that there is somebody here who represents the country and we can easily get in touch with them,” the minister said.Exploit trade opportunities He also said this is a very good opportunity for Uganda to first and foremost consolidate its diplomatic relations with eSwatini and exploit the trade opportunities and benefits between the two countries.”And I am sure Ugandans will love to travel to eSwatini to see opportunities there and vice versa,” he added.Bwamwine said that his major focus will be promoting trade and investment between the two countries.”But there are also certain specific interests like education. eSwatini has been a centre for training people in education, especially in administration. Even before I was appointed when I went there I found many Ugandans were going there, so I am going to cement the relationship in terms of trade and education but most importantly to cater to the interests of the eSwatini people living in Uganda,” he said.Bamwine said eSwatini citizens here have been having problems and not having anyone to offer them a shoulder to cry on. “Even during COVID-19 lockdown, they had problems but now that I am here the situation is going to be different,” he said.He noted that eSwatini is a country that produces exotic spirits that come to Uganda. “It is also a country that is good for tourism. When you look at it, it is almost like Uganda, so I will also promote tourism between the two countries. We can sell cotton there because eSwatini is very good in production of cotton,” Bamwine said.He said they have roughly around 200 students here and other Eswatini people working in Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Mengo School of Nursing and Midwifery.
