Museveni Set to Attend Nile Basin Summit in Cairo

President Yoweri Museveni has accepted an invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to attend the Nile Basin States Summit in Cairo in 2025. The gathering will bring together leaders from 11 Nile Basin countries to promote cooperation and sustainable development.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, conveyed the invitation during a meeting with President Museveni at State House in Entebbe. During the meeting, President Museveni highlighted the importance of addressing environmental challenges in the region and emphasized the need for socio-economic transformation to reduce dependency on traditional agriculture, which he argued is degrading the region’s water resources. “The problem is not water; the problem is just ideology. I don’t know why we don’t agree, that’s why I want a summit,” he stated.

The President expressed concerns over unsustainable agricultural practices that lead to land and water misuse, contributing to regional issues like wetland destruction and reduced rainfall. “If you care about the Nile, make sure the tropics modernize. Society shouldn’t rely on primitive agriculture but rather on services and industry,” Museveni urged.

Dr. Badr praised Uganda’s leadership, emphasizing Egypt’s trust in Museveni’s wisdom to help navigate the Nile Basin Initiative’s challenges. He also outlined Egypt’s commitment to the region, describing an investment of over $15 billion in water recycling and the establishment of a $600 million export and investment guarantee fund, with a focus on Nile Basin countries, especially Uganda. Egypt has earmarked an additional $100 million for regional water and infrastructure projects.

Dr. Badr also emphasized Egypt’s interest in bolstering trade and investment in Uganda, specifically through partnerships in infrastructure, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. “We have around 20 Egyptian companies already investing in Uganda, but our private sector is keen to do much more,” he noted, highlighting Egypt’s desire to expand its economic engagement in Uganda. Egypt also intends to establish a joint ministerial committee to streamline cooperation across various sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energy and local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

Museveni acknowledged Egypt’s interest in collaborative growth within the Nile Basin, emphasizing Uganda’s role as a regional partner in sustainable development and a cooperative approach to shared water resources. The summit is expected to advance efforts towards mutual goals and strengthen ties among Nile Basin states.