UG@59 | UGANDA | TANZANIA 

DAR ES SALAAM - Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania has called for increased trade and investment between the countries.

“While Uganda and Tanzania partnership has strengthened, we must acknowledge that trade and investment between our two countries is lower than what is potentially possible,” Amb. Richard Kabonero, the High Commissioner of Uganda to Tanzania said on Thursday.

This was during celebrations to mark Uganda’s 59 years of independence. The colourful function took place at the Serena Hotel, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Kabonero mentioned that every independence anniversary marks a key milestone in the quality of life of the citizens of the two countries.

He added that it represents the fulfilment of the dreams and visions of the founding fathers, who longed to see the people of Africa self-governing, independent, prosperous and co-existing happily with each other. 

“As we celebrate 59 years of independence, we are proud that the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Uganda and Tanzania are historical, excellent and growing in breadth and depth,” Kabonero remarked.

He promised that the Uganda Mission in Tanzania would work towards creating an enabling environment that will allow the private sector to share experiences, start business to business networks, identify opportunities, and eliminate challenges to trade, investment and lead to greater integration of the region.

He explained that efforts to achieve sustainable economic development must prioritise regional infrastructure projects and programs that require an investment of about $80b (sh285b) over the coming decade.

He cited the flagship infrastructure projects earmarked for coordinated development and implementation such as the Standard Gauge Railway, the construction of new container terminals at Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mwanza, Port Bell and Bukasa Ports, the expansion and construction of regional priority airports.

 He said they have prioritized energy projects that include the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, power generation from the various sources of hydro, geothermal, gas and coal, power transmission connecting the two countries and the region’s power pools.

“We need to work together to develop these sectors to raise our manufacturing share of GDP through bilateral platforms, pool our resources as a region to invest in more robust and modern infrastructure,” Kabonero said.

The high commissioner appreciated the Government of Tanzania for fast-tracking the designation of Uganda Airlines to operate scheduled international passenger and cargo services on the Entebbe-Dar es Salaam to Entebbe, Entebbe to Kilimanjaro to Entebbe and Entebbe to Zanzibar to Entebbe routes.

He said the move has eased travel within the region and promoted tourism, trade and investment.

He commended the Government of Tanzania on the recently launched Southern route (Central Corridor) from Dar es Salaam port to Port-bell via Mwanza through rail-lake-rail multimodal transport. He encouraged the business community to consider using this route as it reduces the cost of doing business. 

He asked that Tanzania, Uganda together with the EAC partners expeditiously work on domesticating airspace, consolidate the one area network in communication, harmonize regulations on emerging technologies, protect our environment, allow free movement of goods and services and eliminate the remaining barriers to trade and investment.

Amb. Liberata Mulamula the minister for foreign affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania recalled that at a time when Tanzania was ready to get independence, the late President Julius Mwalimu Nyerere told the British that: “Can we delay so that our neighbour’s get it and we celebrate on the same day?”

Mulamula hinted that Nyerere sacrificed resources for the liberation of African countries. She said that among those he supported included Yoweri Museveni.

She noted that Nyerere took the courage to rid Uganda of the brutal regime of the late Idi Amin, which opened a new chapter between Tanzania with the people of Uganda.

“We have had close bilateral relations. We share a lot in terms of history, demographic affinities and being members of EAC. These relations have now been transformed into economic partnerships. We have to celebrate our relationship through regional integration cemented by the Joint Permanent Commission. This has become our new norm of our commercial diplomacy,” Mulamula said.

The minister explained that the pipeline will be one of the longest heated pipelines in the world. He noted that it will be transformative in generating economic activities along the way.

Mulamula encouraged the private sector to take interest in the pipeline project to employ people and improve livelihoods.

“If we have domestication of air devices, it will be better. Regarding COVID-19, we are committed and through EAC programmes and partnerships. We are moving to recovery. We are determined not to give in to COVID-19,” Mulamula said.

She said she was looking forward to being in Kampala next month for the Joint Permanent Commission meeting.

She said she has worked with Amb. Kabonero for many years. She thanked him for postponing the event to wait for her return. During the event, the two leaders made a toast to the prosperity of the two countries. The guests included; Dr. Peter Mathuki the secretary-general of the East African Community, diplomatic corps, heads of international and regional organisations, Angelina Ngalula the chairperson at the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.