President of Uganda received H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed; both countries have deepened ties with strategic agreements in energy, investment and digital innovation
In a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Uganda, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala on Wednesday. The meeting marked the beginning of Sheikh Abdullah’s working visit to the East African nation, underscoring the UAE’s growing interest in fostering strategic partnerships across the African continent.
Sheikh Abdullah conveyed greetings from UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressing the UAE leadership’s well wishes for Uganda’s continued development and prosperity.
President Museveni warmly welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and reciprocated the sentiments, offering his own greetings to the UAE leadership and reiterating Uganda’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Gulf nation.
Also present during the high-level meeting were Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo, alongside several UAE officials. The leaders discussed a range of issues, focusing particularly on enhancing cooperation in investment, energy, commerce, and infrastructure development.
Sheikh Abdullah lauded the existing friendly ties between the two nations, emphasising their shared goals of sustainable development, economic diversification, and mutual prosperity. “The UAE is committed to building long-term partnerships across Africa that are based on trust, mutual respect and development,” he said. “Uganda, with its youthful population, natural resources and strategic location, holds enormous potential for collaboration in multiple sectors.”
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), representing a significant expansion of cooperation between the UAE and Uganda across diverse domains.
The first MoU on investment cooperation was signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, and Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija. This agreement is expected to pave the way for increased Emirati investments in Uganda’s infrastructure, agriculture, and industrial sectors.
A second agreement, focusing on diplomatic training and knowledge exchange, was signed between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supporting capacity-building in foreign policy and international relations.
In a major boost to Uganda’s energy ambitions, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed an MoU with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to collaborate in areas such as power generation, renewable energy technologies, and resource management. Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda’s Energy Minister, expressed optimism that Emirati expertise would accelerate Uganda’s transition to cleaner energy solutions.
One of the most symbolic agreements was the fourth MoU, signed by Sheikh Shakhboot and Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister Major General Kahinda Otafiire, which grants mutual exemption from visa requirements. This move is likely to stimulate business travel and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The fifth MoU, signed between UAE’s Etihad Rail and Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport, focuses on rail infrastructure development, aiming to boost regional connectivity and facilitate trade between landlocked Uganda and international markets.
The sixth and final MoU, signed between Uganda’s National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) and Emirati AI firm Presight, represents a bold step into the digital frontier. The agreement covers cooperation in digital transformation, cybersecurity, e-governance, and the development of Uganda’s national cloud infrastructure. “This partnership will enable Uganda to leverage AI and big data for smarter public services,” said Dr Hatwib Mugasa, NITA-U’s Executive Director.
The meeting and MoU signings were also attended by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Trade Affairs, and Abdullah Hassan Obaid Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Uganda.
The visit reflects the UAE’s growing focus on sub-Saharan Africa as a destination for trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement. With Uganda playing a central role in East Africa’s economic and political landscape, analysts see this partnership as a strategic move by the UAE to deepen its footprint in the region.
President Museveni commended the UAE’s vision for Africa and described the visit as a “turning point” in bilateral relations. “We welcome the UAE’s interest in Uganda’s development journey. This collaboration brings capital, technology and skills that will transform key sectors of our economy,” he said.
As the UAE continues its post-oil economic diversification and Africa positions itself as the next frontier of global growth, the Kampala summit could mark the beginning of a broader, long-term alignment between two regions that are increasingly intertwined by commerce, technology and diplomacy.
