Museveni, Kiir discuss security, cross-border trade on Juba visit

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN:- President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has held high-level bilateral discussions with his South Sudanese counterpart, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, in Juba, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to peace, regional security, and economic integration between the two neighboring nations.

In a Friday statement shared via his official X platform (formerly Twitter), President Museveni described the discussions as fruitful, highlighting that the meeting focused on harmonizing trade policies and strengthening cross-border trade, a move seen as vital to accelerating socio-economic transformation for both Uganda and South Sudan.

“Yesterday, I had good discussions with President Salva Kiir in Juba,” Museveni posted. “We addressed key issues of peace, security, and the socio-economic landscape, particularly how to harmonise our trade policies and enhance cross-border trade between our two countries.”

Upon his arrival in Juba for the one-day working visit, President Museveni was received with full honors at Juba International Airport by President Kiir himself. The two leaders later convened at the Presidential Palace, accompanied by senior government officials from both countries.

Key figures present included South Sudan’s Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chol Mawut Ajongo; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramadan Muhammed Abdalla; and Minister of Defence, Chol Thon Balok, among other senior officials.

For Uganda, notable attendees for the high-profile meeting included Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Jacob Oboth Oboth, Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, and Uganda’s Ambassador to South Sudan Brig. Gen. Ronnie Balya.

The two Heads of State also reiterated the importance of regional collaboration within the framework of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC), particularly in efforts to promote peaceful co-existence, post-conflict recovery, and market integration.

The meeting came at a time of rising political tensions in South Sudan. President Kiir’s government has recently accused First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar of plotting to incite rebellion. Machar is currently under house arrest amid growing scrutiny over internal power struggles.

During a recent parliamentary session, Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth informed Ugandan lawmakers that President Kiir had, on March 10, asked for urgent military assistance from Uganda to contain a looming security crisis.

In response, Uganda deployed elements of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) into South Sudan under a peace enforcement mission. Oboth clarified that the deployment is grounded in Uganda’s long-standing commitment to regional stability and guided by the NRM core values of patriotism, nationalism, and Pan-Africanism.