Israeli PM Netanyahu's visit to Uganda

DIPLOMACY   

KAMPALA - Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Uganda on Monday for a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, on a trip to boost ties with the East African nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

 
Netanyahu arrived to a rainswept Entebbe airport accompanied by his wife, Sara, before heading to meet Museveni.

Netanyahu last visited Uganda in July 2016 to mark the 40th anniversary of a hostage rescue at Entebbe airport, in which his brother Yonatan died.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

 
As he left Israel, Netanyahu said that he was "strengthening our relationship" with Uganda and that he hoped to "have very good news for the State of Israel" from the trip. 

President Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

"I am now on another visit to Africa, this is my fifth visit in about three and a half years," Netanyahu told reporters.
 
"These are ties that are very important in the political, economic, security and other fields."

President Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

Ruhakana Rugunda(centre), Prime minister of Uganda with his wife Jocelyn Rugunda(left), Esther Mbayo(right), Minister for Presidency and other officials during the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at State house Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

The first lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni during the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

President Museveni and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak to the press at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

In recent years, Israel has boosted its links with African nations, improving ties following a difficult period when many post-independence African leaders sided with Israel's Arab rivals and viewed Israel's support for apartheid, South Africa, with intense suspicion.

Ugandan officials during the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

 

President Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

 
As Israeli expertise in military and agricultural technology has developed, the opportunity for trade with Africa has grown.

President Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni wave to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu after their visit at Statehouse Entebbe on 03 February 2020. They were here for a one-day official visit. Photo by Miriam Namutebi. 

 

Israel currently has diplomatic relations with 39 out of 47 sub-Saharan African states.