Honourable Minister Adonia Ayebare, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda,
Honourable Ministers and Members of the Ugandan Delegation,
South African Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you, Minister Ayebare, and the Ugandan delegation to Pretoria for this Ministerial Segment of the Third Session of the South Africa–Uganda Joint Commission for Cooperation.

At the outset, I convey President Cyril Ramaphosa’s warm greetings to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the people of Uganda.

I would also like to congratulate the Government and people of Uganda on the conclusion of the 2026 electoral process and the commencement of President Museveni’s new term of office. South Africa looks forward to continuing its close engagement with Uganda during this new chapter and to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity between our two countries.

Minister Ayebare, allow me also to congratulate you on your appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. We look forward to working closely with you in advancing our bilateral relations and in promoting our shared interests within the African Union, the East African Community and other multilateral forums.

I am particularly pleased that we have finally had time to meet under the auspices of the Joint Commission for Cooperation, which is an important instrument to review our bilateral relations but, most importantly, to take them forward.

South Africa places great importance on its longstanding relationship with Uganda. Our relations are built on historical ties, political solidarity, and a shared commitment to advancing Africa.

Uganda played an important role in supporting South African liberation activists and freedom fighters during our struggle against apartheid. Our formal diplomatic relations, established in 1994, have since developed into a broad partnership covering political, economic, security and social cooperation.

The Joint Commission is an important instrument for giving practical effect to this relationship.

The previous JCC in Kampala in 2022, followed by the Mid-Term Review in Pretoria in 2023 and the State Visit by President Museveni to South Africa in February 2023, provided important momentum to our bilateral relations.

The Third Session gives us an opportunity to take stock of progress, address outstanding matters and identify new areas in which our two countries can work together.

I am encouraged by the work undertaken by our Senior Officials over the days. The committees have considered a broad range of issues under the Diplomatic and Political, Defence and Security, Economic and Social pillars.

Our bilateral engagement takes place against a complex international backdrop, characterised by geopolitical tensions, protracted conflicts, economic uncertainty and growing pressure on multilateral institutions. These developments directly affect Africa’s peace, security and development.

South Africa believes that these challenges reinforce the importance of effective multilateralism, respect for the United Nations Charter and international law, and a stronger voice for Africa in global decision-making. Reforming the United Nations Security Council remains particularly important. Africa cannot remain underrepresented in an institution whose decisions have profound consequences for our continent.

South Africa and Uganda should therefore continue to strengthen consultations and coordination within the United Nations, the African Union and other multilateral forums, particularly on matters affecting African peace and security, development and the reform of global governance.

We must also remain seized with conflicts on our own continent. Uganda continues to play a significant role in regional peace and security efforts, including in relation to South Sudan, Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. Uganda has also been engaged in regional efforts to promote peace and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Africa recognises the importance of these efforts. We remain committed to African-led, regionally owned approaches to resolving conflicts and strengthening the African Union’s role in promoting peace, security, and development.

In Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other conflict-affected areas, the priority must remain protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian access, supporting dialogue, and pursuing sustainable political solutions. In Somalia, the international community must continue to support efforts to establish lasting stability, including through sustainable support for African Union-led initiatives.

Our collective objective must be to silence the guns across Africa in our lifetime. This requires sustained political will, effective regional cooperation and a commitment to addressing the underlying causes of conflict.

Beyond our continent, developments in Palestine and the wider Middle East remain a matter of serious concern. International efforts must keep the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and respect for international law central. South.

Africa continues to support a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question, including the realisation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a two-state solution.

The war in Ukraine likewise underscores the devastating consequences of prolonged conflict and the importance of diplomacy, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter. These conflicts also have wider implications for food security, energy markets, international trade and the economic prospects of developing countries.

We should use our engagement to exchange views on these and other international developments, identify areas of common concern and strengthen our coordination where our interests converge. Our approach should be guided by the principles of peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

At the same time, we must ensure that competing geopolitical interests do not displace Africa’s development priorities. Reforming global governance must go hand in hand with securing fairer access to development finance, climate finance, technology and international markets. Our countries should continue advocating for an international economic system that responds more effectively to developing countries’ needs.

We also welcome Uganda’s continued commitment to regional integration through the East African Community. A more integrated East Africa, supported by improved infrastructure, trade facilitation, and connectivity, can significantly contribute to the economic transformation of our continent and to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In this regard, I welcome Uganda’s emphasis on economic diplomacy and on converting diplomatic engagement into tangible trade and investment opportunities. This is an area in which our two countries can work particularly closely.

The economic discussions are therefore particularly important.

South Africa and Uganda have significant opportunities to expand trade and investment. We should continue exploring cooperation in areas such as transport, trade facilitation, mining, energy, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and tourism.

There are already important examples of South African companies that have established a longstanding presence in Uganda. MTN has operated in Uganda since 1998 and has become an important player in the country’s telecommunications and digital economy. Stanbic Bank Uganda, part of Standard Bank Group, is another significant example of South African investment supporting Uganda’s financial sector. Absa, Sanlam and other South African companies have likewise established operations in Uganda.

These investments demonstrate the contribution that South African companies can make to Uganda’s economic development while building commercially sustainable operations. At the same time, we should recognise that the investment relationship has not yet reached its full potential.

During President Museveni’s State Visit to South Africa in 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the decline in the number of South African firms operating in Uganda and highlighted the need to address challenges affecting investors. More recently, Standard Bank Group has reaffirmed its commitment to Uganda and its involvement in financing major infrastructure projects in the country.

This illustrates both the opportunities that exist and the importance of maintaining a predictable and supportive investment environment.

We should therefore use this JCC to identify practical measures that can make it easier for businesses from both countries to invest and operate in each other’s markets. This includes addressing regulatory and administrative barriers, improving trade facilitation, strengthening standards cooperation, enhancing access to information on investment opportunities and ensuring that legitimate concerns raised by investors are channelled to the appropriate authorities for resolution.

Our objective is not only to encourage more South African investment in Uganda, but also to create conditions for Ugandan businesses and investors to expand their presence in South Africa.

The proposed Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment, which has been in the making, can provide a useful mechanism to maintain focused engagement between our two countries, identify practical opportunities for increased two-way investment and monitor challenges experienced by existing investors.

The proposed cooperation on trade facilitation and standards is important in this regard, as practical barriers to trade must be addressed if we are to realise the full potential of our economic relationship.

The Bilateral Air Services Agreement is another important area of cooperation. Improved connectivity can support greater movement of people, business and goods and contribute to stronger economic relations.

In this regard, we welcome the recent expansion of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system to Ugandan passport holders. This is a practical development that can facilitate legitimate short-term travel for business and other eligible purposes and help support greater interaction between our business communities.

The eTA should be seen as part of a broader effort to facilitate business mobility between our two countries, alongside improved air connectivity, trade facilitation, efficient customs and standards procedures and predictable regulatory processes.

We should similarly continue to advance cooperation in mining, geology, hydrocarbons and energy resources, while ensuring that the relevant technical and institutional processes are completed.

The Defence and Security discussions are equally important. Cooperation on extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the transfer of sentenced persons and immigration matters contributes to stronger institutional and law-enforcement cooperation between our two countries.

I recognise that some of these matters require further legal and technical work. Where this is the case, we should agree on a clear pathway to conclusion rather than leaving matters open-ended, as seems to have been the case with some MoUs.

Our experience during the Ebola outbreak provides another important example of the value of African solidarity and practical cooperation.

When Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo faced outbreaks of Ebola in May 2026, South Africa expressed its solidarity with the affected countries and supported the continental response. In his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an initial US$5 million contribution by South Africa to Africa CDC in support of the continental Ebola response.

We are therefore particularly pleased to welcome Uganda’s achievement in bringing the outbreak under control. Uganda announced the interruption of local transmission on 28 July 2026, and the outbreak was subsequently confirmed as ended following completion of the required monitoring period. The last patient was discharged on 16 July 2026.

We congratulate the Government and people of Uganda, including the health workers and communities involved in the response, on this important achievement.

For South Africa, this experience reinforces the importance of continental solidarity, regional preparedness, information-sharing and African-led responses to public health emergencies.

It also demonstrates that our bilateral relationship extends beyond traditional political and economic cooperation. It is about standing together when our countries and our continent face common challenges.

Excellencies,

The purpose is to strengthen our bilateral relationship and ensure our commitments produce tangible results.

Where instruments are ready for signature, we should take advantage of this opportunity. Where further technical or legal work is required, we should agree on practical next steps, responsibilities and timeframes.

I would therefore encourage our delegations to remain focused on implementation.

The success of this JCC should ultimately be judged by what follows after today: stronger trade and investment, improved connectivity, closer institutional cooperation, greater movement of people, stronger regional cooperation and closer coordination on matters of common interest.

Let me conclude by expressing my appreciation to Minister Ayebare and the Ugandan delegation for their participation and for the constructive engagement that has characterised this JCC.

I look forward to our discussions today and to adopting meaningful outcomes that will further strengthen the bonds between South Africa and Uganda.

I thank you.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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