Prime
Was the Museveni- ex premier Mbabazi reunion motivated by SADAC?
What you need to know:
- Disparity. South Africa earnings from Uganda was estimated at $ 198m while Uganda’s imported from South Africa goods worth $215m against Uganda’s exports worth $17m.
Recently as Ugandans ushered in the new year, a mixture of interesting guests visited President Museveni at his farm in Kisozi. Notable among the guest list was former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.
The two charismatic comrades appeared relaxed and happy to see each other as they sat side by side for a photo opportunity. That meeting has caused some excitement and raised speculations as to what could have healed the rift between the two confidants of more than 30 years.
The envelope seen in Mbabazi’s hand has been given its own special attention but the general speculation suggests the two politicians were mending a once broken relationship, opening possibilities of closer interaction in the near future.
The intrigue continued with an entourage of other guests, including embattle former State Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Aidah Nantaba, who lost her position in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
The Kayunga Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Nantaba is famously remembered for the controversy and unclear circumstances surrounding the late Ronald Ssebulime’s death in 2019.
Although it is possible that both Mbabazi and Nantaba may have met with President Museveni simply to share Christmas and New Year festivities, there are, however, speculation about expressions of political and financial investment interests.
In the case of Mr Mbabazi, the latter maybe more applicable since losing the presidential campaign in 2016 under his political party ‘’Go Forward.’’
However, Mbabazi’s fortunes in the corridors of political power and influence have changed dramatically in the last two years. Mbabazi and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa have since forged a very close relations as a result of their children’s marriage.
According to the World Bank, South Africa is an upper middle- income economy with GDP $385b in 2019. As part of Southern African Development Community (SADC), economical market size stands at approximately 345 million people.
Uganda being part of the East Africa Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa negotiates for market access with the European Union (EU) and other regional blocks. Currently, the bilateral relationships between South Africa and Uganda leaves South Africa benefitting more than Uganda.
In May 2019, a group of South African investors visited Uganda looking for investment opportunities in agro-processing, capital equipment and energy. The visit was arranged by Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OTIM) through Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with objectives of gaining market entry, identifying investment opportunities.
In 2016, Amelia Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, attended the second South Africa – Uganda Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting in Pretoria where the trade imbalance between the two countries was glaring.
South Africa earnings from Uganda was estimated at $198m while Uganda’s imported from South Africa goods worth $215m against Uganda’s exports worth $17m.
According to President Museveni’s televised New Year message to the nation, “apart from negotiating for markets abroad, we shall also help our people to broaden final products from our raw materials, working with Africa through Pan Africanism and international cooperation (trade).”
The urgent pressure to find foreign economic markets, for Uganda within Africa, in particular, the South African market may require the former Prime Minister’s expertise in international bilateral relations, contract agreements, legal training and knowledge coupled with personal relations with President Ramaphosa. All attractive attributes that could explain NRM’s new love for Amama Mbabazi.
Ms Victoria Nyeko is a media commentator.
[email protected]
Twitter:@VictoriaNyeko
