Museveni, King Mswati III Discuss Unified African Market, Political Federation for Continental Prosperity

President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, on Wednesday welcomed the King of Eswatini, His Majesty Mswati III, at Entebbe International Airport. His Majesty Mswati III, accompanied by his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama, and other high-level delegates, is in Uganda for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of President Museveni.

Upon arrival, the visiting King was given a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). President Museveni, joined by ministers and service chiefs, later received King Mswati III at State House Entebbe, where they held discussions centred on enhancing bilateral cooperation and the broader vision of a unified African market and political federation to drive prosperity across the continent.

President Museveni emphasised that Africa's prosperity hinges on producing goods and services and accessing larger markets. "If Africans want prosperity, it comes from producing goods or services and selling them," he stated, adding that the fragmentation of the African market is a significant obstacle. He pointed to Uganda's internal market of 46 million people as insufficient, stressing the need for a unified African market to maximise economic benefits.

Comparing Africa's potential to Latin America's, President Museveni warned that despite Latin America's wealth in natural resources, it still struggles with poverty due to its fragmented markets. He urged African nations to integrate their markets and adopt a model where they not only produce but also own and share in the benefits of their resources, rather than relying on foreign investments.

The President also advocated for political federation in East Africa, emphasising its importance in establishing a strong military defence for the continent. "Africa must have the capacity to defend itself from all threats," he asserted, calling for a united African defence strategy as part of the broader vision for political federation.

King Mswati III echoed the call for enhanced cooperation between African nations, highlighting the need for unity to drive the continent's development. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and stressed that African countries must collaborate to achieve progress in key areas such as poverty alleviation, job creation, education, and technological advancement.

During the visit, Uganda and Eswatini further solidified their relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement was signed by Uganda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, and Eswatini’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Senator Pholile Shakantu. Additionally, the two countries' agriculture ministers discussed enhancing cooperation in the agricultural sector.

King Mswati III extended an invitation to President Museveni for a State Visit to Eswatini, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration between the two nations in achieving economic independence for Africa.