President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today bid farewell to King Mswati III of Eswatini, concluding the monarch’s 3-day state visit to Uganda, which began on August 14, 2024. King Mswati III was invited by President Museveni for the visit, accompanied by his wife, Queen Inkhosikati Make Lamashwama.
Before departing, King Mswati III and Queen Lamashwama paid a courtesy call to President Museveni at State House in Entebbe. The two leaders, alongside government officials from both countries, held a pre-departure meeting where they discussed various bilateral matters.
During their discussions, King Mswati III expressed his satisfaction with his visit, highlighting his memorable tour of Busoga Kingdom and the 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 said.
He also commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade for their role in constructing the vehicle plant, praising President Museveni for involving the military in productive economic activities.
“This ensures that even after their retirement from active service, the soldiers can continue to contribute to the nation,” he added.
King Mswati III further suggested that Eswatini could become a distribution center for Uganda’s electric buses in southern Africa and proposed collaboration in the production of bus components.
President Museveni thanked King Mswati for honoring the invitation to visit Uganda and pledged to send a team to Eswatini to assist with the installation of security cameras, an area the King indicated was a priority for his country.
King Mswati III was officially seen off at Entebbe International Airport at 1 p.m. by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda; Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Okello Oryem; Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Diana Mutasingwa; Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E Paul Amoru; and Eswatini’s High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Mahlaba Almon Mamba.
Service chiefs in attendance included Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi, Commander of the UPDF Air Force; Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. James Ocaya; and Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr. Samuel Akena.