I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his kind invitation and for hosting us in a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation. It has been many years since my last visit to Egypt, a nation with which Uganda and the wider Great Lakes region share deep historical ties, bound most significantly by the River Nile.
Our political relations with Egypt grew notably stronger after 1952, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Since then, the Nile has continued to serve as both a lifeline and a symbol of unity between our nations.
In our discussions, we focused on the future of the Nile and the collective responsibility of all Nile Basin countries. It is essential to approach this matter with a broad and inclusive perspective. While history is important, our dialogue must go beyond past entitlements to embrace the shared needs and aspirations of all who depend on this great river.
Our common goal should be to secure prosperity for every nation, ensuring access to electricity, reliable irrigation for agriculture, and safe drinking water for all. By adopting this vision and applying scientific and equitable approaches, we can transform the Nile into a source of unity, development, and shared progress for generations to come.