President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with the First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, on Thursday welcomed the King of Eswatini at Entebbe International Airport.
King Mswati III, who is in Uganda for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of President Museveni was accompanied by his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama and other high-level delegates.
Upon arrival, the visiting King was accorded a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
President Museveni later received his guest at State House Entebbe and held discussions focusing on enhancement of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
During the discussions, President Museveni emphasised a clear vision for African prosperity, rooted in his experience as a student activist in the 1960s, a liberation leader, and now as a head of state.
“If Africans want prosperity, it comes from producing goods or services and selling them,” President Museveni stated.
He underscored the need for African nations to access larger markets to maximise economic benefits, highlighting Uganda’s internal market of 46 million people as insufficient on its own.
“The fragmentation of the African market is a big disaster,” President Museveni warned.
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He compared the continent’s potential with that of Latin America, which, despite abundant natural resources, struggles with poverty due to its fragmented markets.
“I always tell my Ugandans here that if you want to be like Latin America, you are welcome because if you look at them, despite their wealth in natural resources, they still run to the USA for prosperity to get medical care, education, and other benefits,” he said.
The President emphasized that Africa’s success lies in integrating markets across the continent, similar to how the United States operates with a vast and unified market.
He called for a model where African nations not only produce but also own and share in the benefits of their resources, rather than relying on foreign investments that often exploit the continent’s wealth.
For his part, King Mswati III called for an enhanced cooperation between African nations, emphasising the need for unity in driving the continent’s development, as he expressed gratitude for “the warm reception and hospitality” extended to him and his delegation.
The King highlighted the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Eswatini, noting that it had been years since their last meeting at a Commonwealth event.
“Your Excellency, I convey greetings from the Queen Mother, the government, and the people of Eswatini, and I wish to inform you that we are ready to strengthen ties between the two nations.”
King Mswati went on to propose that Uganda and Eswatini establish regular communication channels to avoid neglecting the friendships and agreements already in place.
He stressed that African countries must work together to achieve progress in key areas such as poverty alleviation, job creation, education, and technological advancement.
The King further emphasised the need to promote entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange between Uganda and Eswatini, suggesting the establishment of distribution centres and routes – the opening of direct flights – to facilitate trade.
He also proposed increased cooperation between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community, expressing hope for a stronger economic partnership.
