Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held high-level political consultations in Kampala, chaired by Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Vincent Bagiire Waiswa.
The Saudi delegation was led by Saqr Sulaiman Al-Qurashi, Director General for African Affairs at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting forms part of structured political consultations designed to enhance cooperation across diplomatic, economic, and people-focused areas.
Opening the discussions, Mr Bagiire expressed appreciation for the enduring friendship between the two nations, noting that the partnership has matured into a practical collaboration delivering tangible development outcomes.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s contribution to Uganda’s socio-economic development, particularly in health, education, and human capital.
Key health initiatives mentioned included support for the Naguru Heart Institute, expected to ease pressure on the Uganda Heart Institute and strengthen national cardiac care capacity, as well as investments in regional hospitals.
In education, Saudi Arabia’s long-term support to the Islamic University in Uganda was recognised, noting growth from 88 students in 1989 to over 14,500 today.
On labour mobility, both sides acknowledged the value of Ugandan professionals working in Saudi Arabia while addressing challenges in preparedness, cultural orientation, and skills matching.
The meeting agreed to strengthen pre-departure training, certification, and guidelines to protect workers’ welfare and improve outcomes for employers.
Political alignment on regional and global issues, including peace and security in Africa and the Middle East, was reaffirmed.
Uganda’s contributions to regional stability, including peace initiatives and security efforts in Somalia, were acknowledged as foundations for shared prosperity and investment confidence.
Economic cooperation featured prominently, with Uganda inviting Saudi investors to engage in agro-industrial value chains such as coffee, meat, dairy, poultry, fish, fruits, and horticulture.
Collaboration opportunities in science, technology, innovation, vaccine research, and minerals development were also highlighted.
The Permanent Secretary proposed establishing a Saudi–Uganda Industrial Park, leveraging Uganda’s Free Zones regime to serve Middle Eastern and East African markets with export-oriented production.
Investments in regional road infrastructure and market connectivity were highlighted as part of Uganda’s strategy to anchor stability through trade and growth.
The consultations concluded with a commitment to develop clear priorities, operational guidelines, and a joint implementation mechanism to translate discussions into measurable outcomes.
Both sides expressed readiness to convene a Joint Commission and maintain high-level exchanges, including a future visit by the President of Uganda to Saudi Arabia.
The engagement reaffirmed the shared vision of a partnership rooted in mutual respect, inclusive development, multi-sectoral investment, and people-to-people ties, positioning Uganda and Saudi Arabia as trusted partners in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
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