Sudanese president Omar El Bashir. File photo.
By Mary Kisakye
KAMPALA–Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir is in Uganda for a three-day State visit.
Bashir jetted in the country Monday afternoon and was welcomed at Entebbe International Airport by high ranking Foreign Affairs ministry and security officials.
This is his second visit after attending the swearing-in ceremony of President Museveni on May 12, 2016.
Bashir’s visit comes against the backdrop of unrelenting diplomatic efforts by both countries to normalize ties and boost trade.
Uganda and Sudan appear determined to strengthen their bilateral relations which had for long been strained over support of rebel movements in South Sudan and Uganda.
President Museveni in 2015 paid a two-day working visit to Sudan during which he held bilateral talks with Bashir and delivered a lecture on the the Challenges of Economic Development and Peace Building.
President Museveni again visited Khartoum late last year to witness the closure of the National Dialogue Conference and also held a discussion with President Bashir on further improvement of bilateral relations.
According to Foreign Affairs Ministry Head of Public Diplomacy, Margaret Kafeero, a number of areas of cooperation will be discussed during Bashir’s visit including trade and investment, agriculture, regional peace and security as well as international matters of mutual interest.
Sudan imports 20 percent of Uganda coffee and is the single biggest export market for the product from which about US $ 100 million is earned.
President Al-Bashir is accompanied by Ministers, Senior Officials and a business delegation in various sectors who will be seeking opportunities to carry out trade, investments and business partnerships. The visit will climax with a Sudan-Uganda Business Forum.
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