Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed the depth of the historic and strategic relations between Egypt and Uganda. The remarks came during Abdelatty's meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello, where both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate on issues of mutual interest.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty praised the significant progress in bilateral ties, particularly following Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Cairo in August 2025, emphasizing Egypt's commitment to building on these outcomes to enhance political and economic cooperation. He highlighted Egypt's openness to expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation with Uganda, particularly in infrastructure, energy, water resource management, and pharmaceuticals.

Abdelatty also underlined the importance of supporting Egyptian companies operating in the Ugandan market and increasing export opportunities for Egyptian products. The minister noted the ongoing development of the Egyptian medical center in Jinja, in cooperation with the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), and called for establishing a joint Egyptian-Ugandan business council to further strengthen economic ties.

On water security, Abdelatty stressed the importance of cooperation along the Nile River to achieve mutual benefits and shared interests. He underlined the need to maintain the spirit of consensus and brotherhood among Nile Basin countries, particularly in the southern Nile Basin, restore inclusivity in the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), and reject unilateral actions in the eastern Nile Basin.

Abdelatty briefed Okello on Egypt's efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, particularly initiatives aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The discussions also covered developments in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as measures to enhance Red Sea security. Both ministers affirmed the importance of continued coordination to support peace, security, and stability in Africa, preserve the territorial integrity of African nations, and strengthen national institutions to meet the aspirations of African peoples for security, stability, and prosperity.