Uganda and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have signed four memorandums of Understanding (MoU) that are aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries.
The ceremony took place last evening at the National Palace in Addis Ababa witnessed by President Yoweri Museveni and his host Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn. President Museveni is currently on a day State Visit to Ethiopia.
Uganda’s State Minister of International Affairs, Mr. Okello Oryem and the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tedros Adhanom signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the 2 countries in matters of Health; while State Minister for Energy, Mr. Simon D’Ujanga and the Ethiopian Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy initialed the document on cooperation in matters of energy.
State Minister for International Affairs Mr. Okello Oryem and the Ethiopian Minister of Transport Workneh Gebeye signed the memorandum of understanding of cooperation in matters of transport. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Ms. Jennifer Musisi and the Mayor of Addis Ababa Diriba Kuma, signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation on matters centring on City Dwelling.
In his remarks at the ceremony, President Museveni thanked the Ethiopian leader, Premier Hailemariam Desalegn, for inviting him to visit his country. He observed that the people of Uganda came from Ethiopia in the pre-colonial days adding that the two countries have been committed to cooperating in defence, security, infrastructure, trade, tourism, cross-border trade and culture. He emphasized said that they do not want a lot of talking but to work for the development of their 2 respective countries.
Responding to a question at a press briefing as to when Uganda planned to withdraw from South Sudan, President Museveni said that “we did not go to South Sudan looking for jobs. The people of South Sudan and Uganda are brothers.”
He revealed that President Salva Kiir of South Sudan requested Uganda to protect Juba so that it does not become a war zone. He said that the UPDF went to Bor because the rebels attacked us and that Bor was affected by the conflict. He further revealed that the UPDF went to South Sudan due to lack of agreement between Uganda’s brothers in South Sudan.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn thanked President Museveni for accepting his invitation to visit the country. He revealed that the two Governments would cooperate in peace building. The Premier said the Addis Ababa – Juba railway line will be extended to Kampala and that plans were in the pipeline to connect electricity supply between Ethiopia and Uganda. He noted that there was already electricity link between Uganda and Kenya.
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