Uganda, Saudi Arabia to boost trade and healthcare ties

KAMPALA — Uganda and Saudi Arabia have held high-level talks in Kampala to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on healthcare, education and labour mobility.

The meeting, chaired by Uganda’s foreign affairs permanent secretary Vincent Bagiire Waiswa and Saudi Arabia’s director general for African affairs Saqr Sulaiman Al-Qurashi, aimed to deepen a partnership that officials say is delivering tangible development.

A central pillar of the discussions was Saudi support for Uganda’s healthcare system. Mr Bagiire highlighted the strategic importance of the Naguru Heart Institute, a project backed by Riyadh. The facility is expected to bolster national capacity for cardiac care and reduce the burden on existing medical centres.

Educational cooperation was also high on the agenda. The two delegations noted the growth of the Islamic University in Uganda, which has expanded from 88 students in 1989 to more than 14,500 today with Saudi assistance.

On the issue of labour mobility, both nations acknowledged the role of Ugandan professionals working in the kingdom. However, they also addressed challenges regarding worker welfare and cultural orientation. To resolve these, the two sides agreed to introduce stricter pre-departure training and certification processes.

The talks shifted to economic expansion, with Uganda proposing the establishment of a Saudi-Uganda Industrial Park. This facility would leverage Uganda’s free zones to manufacture goods for both Middle Eastern and East African markets.

Mr Bagiire invited Saudi firms to invest in Uganda’s agricultural sector, specifically in coffee, dairy and poultry, noting that improved standards and halal certification would be key to future trade.

The consultations ended with a commitment to establish a joint implementation mechanism to ensure the discussions lead to measurable results. A future visit by President Yoweri Museveni to Saudi Arabia is also being considered to further solidify the alliance.