South Africa’s Ramaphosa expected in Uganda on two-day working trip

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is today, Monday April 15, expected to start his official two-day working visit in Uganda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed last week.

“His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa will undertake a two-day working visit to Uganda, from 15th-16th April 2024. The visit is aimed at strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of South Africa,” a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs reads in part.

H.E. Ramaphosa’s visit comes just months after his country sent troops under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to fight M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In February last year, President Museveni visited South Africa on a trip that was dominated by discussions on investment and stability in the DRC.

Since President Museveni visited South Africa, there hasn’t been much progress to be seen on trade and investments as had been expected. The trade volume between the two countries has instead continued to drop.

Official figures indicate that the number of South African companies has also reduced from 70 firms to just 35, according to the South African President.

Currently, the trade volume between the two countries is US$130 million, but the leaders of the two countries want it to increase fourfold in five years’ time.