Published on 16/08/2024
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today bid farewell to the King of Eswatini, His Majesty Mswati III head of the Swazi royal family who has been in Uganda for a 3-day state visit that began on Wednesday 14th August 2024.
King Mswati III came to Uganda at the invitation of President Museveni.
Before departure, His Majesty Mswati III who was in the company of his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama paid a courtesy call to the President at State House, Entebbe and the two leaders held a pre-departure meeting that was also attended by government officials of both countries.
During their discussions, His Majesty the King informed President Museveni about his successful 3-day state visit that included his memorable tour of Busoga Kingdom and Kiira vehicle plant.
“It has been a very impressive visit. I was very happy to see electric vehicles manufactured in Uganda by Ugandans. It is one of the wonderful projects that you have done,” King Mswati told President Museveni, adding that he was impressed to hear that the vehicle plant was constructed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade and commended H.E Museveni for incorporating the army into commercial production activities.
“This means that even after their retirement from active service, they (soldiers) can still be useful to the country,” King Mswati stated.
He further stated that Eswatini can become a centre of distribution for the manufactured electric buses in the southern part of Africa and also proposed other areas of cooperation in the production of some components of electric buses.
President Museveni thanked his guest for honouring his invitation to visit Uganda and promised to send a team to Eswatini to assist them in the installation of security cameras, an area His Majesty Mswati III said is lacking back home.
At Entebbe International Airport, His Majesty Mswati was seen off at 1pm by Officials that included; the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Okello Oryem, the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President,Hon.
Diana Mutasingwa, Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa and accredited to Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana, H.E Paul Amoru and H.E. Mahlaba Almon Mamba, the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Eswatini to Uganda.
Others were service chiefs; Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi who is the Commander of the UPDF Air Force, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. James Ocaya and the Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr. Samuel Akena.