President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday hosted a series of high-level meetings at State House Entebbe as regional leaders and foreign delegations arrived in Uganda ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Tuesday.
Among the visiting leaders was President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, who arrived together with his delegation for the inauguration events.
“I have received my brother, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, at State House Entebbe together with his delegation, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow,” President Museveni posted on X.
“I warmly welcome him and wish him a fruitful stay as we continue to strengthen the historic brotherly ties and cooperation between our two countries,” he added.
Later, President Museveni met Mr. Nick Checker, the Senior Bureau Official in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, who is representing President Donald Trump at the inauguration ceremony.
During the meeting, Museveni emphasized the importance of industrialisation and value addition across Africa, arguing that the continent must move beyond exporting raw materials.
“We cannot continue exporting raw materials such as coffee, oil and minerals without processing them,” President Museveni said.
“Value addition is crucial for expanding Africa’s GDP, creating jobs and increasing the purchasing power of our people,” he added.
The President welcomed the U.S. delegation and expressed optimism about continued cooperation between Uganda and the United States.
In a third engagement at State House, President Museveni also hosted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, who travelled to Uganda to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
“I appreciate his visit and the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation that continues to strengthen the relations between Uganda and Somalia,” Museveni said.
Uganda and Somalia maintain close security cooperation, particularly through Uganda’s longstanding troop deployment under the African Union stabilisation mission in Somalia aimed at combating the extremist group al-Shabaab.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to attract several regional leaders, diplomats and international representatives as President Museveni begins another term in office after nearly four decades in power.
Uganda has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with neighbouring countries, including South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with regional integration, trade and security remaining central pillars of its foreign policy.
