Gabon President invites Uganda entrepreneurs for partnerships

__________________

Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Gabonese Republic, has invited Ugandan entrepreneurs to expand their businesses in his country.

He extended the offer at a meeting with Farid Kaliisa, Uganda's Ambassador to Gabon. During the same engagement at the State House in Libreville, on September 15th, Kaliisa presented his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to President Nguema.

Kaliisa receiving a guard of honour at State House in Librevilleon September 15, 2025. (Credit: MoFA photo)

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the hosting president also invited the Ambassador to visit the Special Investment Zone of Nkok of the Gabonese Republic to explore opportunities for Ugandans.

After Kaliisa extended greetings of friendship and esteem from President Yoweri Museveni to his counterpart, Nguema received the ambassador's credential documents and congratulated him upon his deployment.

The MoFA release further notes that Nguema also appreciated the positive message of esteem and friendship from Museveni, as well as the commitment of both countries to maintaining diplomatic representation in each other’s capital, which serves as an affirmation of the good and friendly bilateral relations between the two countries. He revealed that the cordial relations are shaped by shared mutual interests and belonging to regional and international fora.

He assured the Ambassador of his government's support in the discharge of his duties in the Gabonese Republic and wished him a successful tour of duty.

The President noted the positive outlook and cooperation between the two countries that were evident during his visit to Uganda in August 2024. The exchanges during the State Visit to Uganda enabled the two countries to establish convergence of views on issues of common interest in the diplomatic and political fields, agriculture, defence, and health, among others.

Kaliisa receiving a guard of honour at State House in Libreville on September 15, 2025. (Credit: MoFA photo)

President Nguema asked the Ambassador to support in consolidating this relationship between the two countries in close consultation with the Gabonese authorities. He also advocated for increased exchange of visits.

Ambassador Kaliisa affirmed his resolve to ensure effective representation and strengthened fraternal bilateral relations between the two countries and the peoples. 

He affirmed Uganda’s commitment to exploring opportunities in the Gabonese Republic and following up on the agreed areas of cooperation in the fields of Defence and training, agriculture, health, and trade.

According to MoFA, he two countries are due to conclude the Cooperation Framework Agreement that will underline cooperation in various fields of political and diplomatic, trade, agriculture, energy and mineral resources, security and defence, education, ICT, transport, tourism, culture, private sector business, among others. This will culminate in the hosting of the first Joint Permanent Commission and Business/Investment Forum.

The MoFA report on relations between Uganda and the Gabonese Republic lists the achievements below:

Uganda and Gabon enjoy mutual and cordial bilateral relations and cooperation, demonstrated in collaboration in areas of diplomatic and political cooperation, security, economic development, and regional stability. 

Both countries maintain diplomatic representation at the level of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary through their resident Missions in Kinshasa that are accredited to each other's capitals.

In 2024, Nguema paid a State Visit to Uganda at the invitation of his counterpart.

Relatedly, Mrs Zita Oligui Nguema, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic, also paid a working visit to Uganda during the launch of the Women's Optimal Health Framework (WOHF) in 2024.

Ambassador Farid Kaliisa presenting his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to President Nguema at State House in Libreville on September 15, 2025. (Credit: MoFA photo)

On tradable relations, Uganda exported $612,000 products to Gabon in 2023. These included: aluminium, articles of iron or steel, aircraft and spacecraft, machinery and nuclear reactors, ceramic products, paper and paper board, furniture, edible vegetables, cereals, milling products, oilseed and fruits, footwear, printed books, plastics, plaiting materials and basketry, etc.

In the same year, Gabon exported $167,000 products to Uganda in 2023 that included Optical and medical apparatus, electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and nuclear reactors, mineral fuels and oils, articles of steel, copper, etc.