Trade is at the top of the agenda of the South Africa-Uganda Joint Commission of Cooperation, co-chaired by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and his Ugandan counterpart, Adonia Ayebare, in Pretoria.
The commission is the second-highest platform for diplomatic engagement between the two countries after state visits.
Opening the commission on Tuesday, Lamola said discussions were expected to cover continental peace and security, immigration, cultural cooperation, trade and investment. The latter, he said, was particularly important.
Lamola said the two countries had to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area to grow their respective economies by leveraging key sectors.
“I welcome Uganda’s emphasis on economic diplomacy and on converting diplomatic engagement into tangible trade and investment opportunities. This is an area in which our two countries can work particularly closely. The economic discussions are therefore particularly important.
“South Africa and Uganda have significant opportunities to expand trade and investment. We should continue exploring cooperation in areas such as transport, trade facilitation, mining, energy, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and tourism,” Lamola said.
Lamola cited existing South African commercial interests in Uganda as a foundation on which to build.
“There are already important examples of South African companies that have established a longstanding presence in Uganda. MTN has operated in Uganda since 1998 and has become an important player in the country’s telecommunications and digital economy. Stanbic Bank Uganda, part of Standard Bank Group, is another significant example of South African investment supporting Uganda’s financial sector. Absa, Sanlam and other South African companies have likewise established operations in Uganda,” Lamola said.
He said South African investment made a significant contribution to the East African country’s development, adding that trade between the two countries needed to grow.
“These investments demonstrate the contribution that South African companies can make to Uganda’s economic development while building commercially sustainable operations. At the same time, we should recognise that the investment relationship has not yet reached its full potential,” the minister said.
Ongoing conflicts in South Sudan, Ethiopia and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are also expected to feature prominently in discussions on security.
Lamola also voiced strong support for the Ugandan government under President Yoweri Museveni, who has just been re-elected for a seventh consecutive term.
“At the outset, I convey President Cyril Ramaphosa’s warm greetings to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the people of Uganda. I would also like to congratulate the Government and people of Uganda on the conclusion of the 2026 electoral process and the commencement of President Museveni’s new term of office.
“South Africa looks forward to continuing its close engagement with Uganda during this new chapter and to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity between our two countries,” he said.