By: Ismael Kasooha

Kigali

The Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja has stressed the need to increase trade volumes between Uganda and Rwanda.

“As you know, Uganda and Rwanda have enjoyed warm bilateral relations for many years. Ugandans and Rwandans have lived together in Uganda and Rwanda for decades. We want that level of cooperation in trade and investment to continue,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja who was in Kigali to attend the Women Deliver 2023 conference, met at the sidelines her counterpart of Rwanda Dr. Edouard Ngirente in the capital Kigali where they discussed a number of bilateral issues.

Nabbanja said that the government of Uganda would expedite the construction of Katuna Border post to be at the same standard with that of Rwanda.

“I bring greetings from H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you and all Rwandans on being chosen to host this International Women Deliver Conference. The fact that Rwanda was chosen to host the first Women Deliver Conference in Africa is a vote of confidence in your country,” said Nabbanja.

The Prime Minister of Rwanda Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that they had opened a small border post at Masha to facilitate trade between the two countries and reduce on smuggling.

“This border post will help to foster trade between the two sister countries and also enable both governments raise revenue in form of taxes on top of fighting smuggling,” said Ngirente.

Ngirente said that Rwanda was ready to share their development experiences as part of Rwanda’s effort to support south-to-south relationship instead of the western experiences which did not match our African way of doing business.

Ngirente lauded the signing of an agreement between Uganda and Rwanda on sharing electricity.

The Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja (2nd right) with her counterpart of Rwanda, Dr. Edouard Ngirente in Kigali Rwanda after a meeting

Ngirente said that Rwanda Revenue Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority would exchange the Electronic system (e-system) of taxes which would improve taxation and trade between the two countries.

Nabbanja was in Kigali at the invitation of the Rwandan Prime Minister to bolster ties between the two sister countries.

Nabbanja also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Rwanda to Uganda to experience the beauty of the pearl of Africa.

In a related development the Prime Minister of Rwanda congratulated the Crested Cranes for winning the second leg of the 2024 Women’s Olympic qualifiers and wished Uganda the best.

Later in the day Nabbanja joined world leaders including the host, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame at the official opening of the Women Deliver Conference 2024 at BK Arena in Kigali.

The conference was running under the theme “Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions.”

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