Uganda President, Yoweri Museveni
President Museveni will also hold talks
with his host, President John Magufuli on the East African Common Market
as well as the ongoing project for the construction of the
1,443-kilometre pipeline to transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to
Tanga Port, among others.
Mr Museveni’s visit further aims at
strengthening bilateral relations between Tanzania and Uganda as well as
discussing various regional and international matters, areas of
cooperation between the two countries including energy, business and
infrastructure amongst others, according to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga Addressing a
news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dr Mahiga said a plane
carrying the Ugandan leader will touch down at the Julius Nyerere
International Airport (JNIA) tomorrow at around 9:00a.m.
“The president and his delegation, on
the first day of the visit to the country, will take a short breather
after leaving the JNIA at Dar es Salaam’s Serena Hotel before heading
for the State House where Mr Museveni will be received by Dr Magufuli
for a closed door meeting,’’ Dr Mahiga said.
Later in the day, President Magufuli and
his guest will hold yet another open meeting that will be attended by
top leaders from both countries that will be followed by a State Banquet
for Mr Museveni hosted on his honour by Dr Magufuli, according to the
minister.
On the second day (Sunday), Mr Museveni
is expected to visit various areas including factories owned by Bakhresa
Group, one of Tanzania’s largest conglomerates with investment in
Uganda and other African countries. According to Dr Mahiga, the Ugandan
President will later visit the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).
Uganda is a landlocked country that depends on its neighbours for cargo clearance and transportation.
“Uganda has for a long time been using
the Mombasa Port in Kenya where 99 per cent of its cargo is cleared and
the remaining one per cent at the Dar es Salaam Port,’’ he said, adding
that the reluctance to clear cargo at Dar Port was mainly caused by some
discrepancies that have now been cleared.
Dr Mahiga expressed optimism that with
the current improved services at TPA, the Ugandan leader was likely to
reverse the decision for his country to capitalise on the Mombasa Port
and instead opt for the Dar es Salaam Port after his tour of the port
this Sunday. Business cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda continues
to grow as time goes on.
According to the minister, in 2016
alone, Tanzanian exports to Uganda stood at 126.7bn/- compared to
99.9bn/- in the corresponding period in 2015. Equally, Dr Mahiga added,
Ugandan imports into Tanzania in 2016 stood at 66.8bn/- compared to
78.3bn/- in 2015.
The Ugandan country’s top boss will also
hold talks with Dr Magufuli on the project for the construction of the
1,443-kilometre pipeline to transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to
Tanga Port which is expected to be complete by 2020.
The implementation of the project will
open employment opportunities to Tanzanians as well as open a business
zone in northern parts of Uganda and Tanzania, as well as strengthening
cooperation in the East African Common Market.
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