President Thabo Mbeki to Address Joint Sitting of Ugandan Parliament

Kampala -South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is on a two-day state visit to Uganda, is expected to address a joint sitting of the Ugandan parliament on Tuesday 13 December.

President Mbeki is accompanied by Mrs. Zanele Mbeki and supported by Ministers Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Jeff Radebe, Deputy Ministers Mluleki George and Elizabeth Thabethe, Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba and the Chief Operating Officer in the
Presidency Trevor Fowler as well as a business delegation with interests in Uganda.

The visit is part of efforts to consolidate and strengthen political, economic and trade links between the two countries. Earlier today and upon his arrival President Mbeki held tête-à-tête with his counterpart and host President Yoweri Museveni following the official launch of the Joint SA-Uganda Commission.

Minister Dlamini Zuma and her counterpart Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa jointly co-chaired the ministerial session of the inaugural session of the Joint SA-Uganda Commission. The inaugural launch of the SA-Uganda Joint Commission culminated in the signing, by the two Ministers of

Foreign Affairs, of five agreements namely:

Joint Permanent Economic Agreement
Agreement on Police Co-operation
Memorandum on Diplomatic Consultations
Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral C-operation in the field of sports and recreation
Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation.

Earlier on Monday, President Mbeki and President Museveni addressed an interactive session with the SA-Ugandan business leaders.

On Tuesday, President Mbeki is also expected to address a meeting of Ugandan Women Entrepreneurs and Yello Roses before returning to South Africa.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

12 December 2005