KINSHASA— Uganda’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Farid Kaliisa, presented his credentials to President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi on Wednesday at the Statehouse in Kinshasa.
Ambassador Kaliisa conveyed greetings from Ugandan President Yoweri K. Museveni to President Tshisekedi, who welcomed the ambassador and acknowledged the message of friendship and the commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Kaliisa also requested that the DRC appoint a substantive ambassador to Uganda.
President Tshisekedi assured Ambassador Kaliisa of his support and expressed sadness over the January 20, 2025, incident where the Ugandan embassy in the DRC was damaged and looted.
He pledged support for the embassy’s restoration and the security of diplomatic personnel.
Both leaders emphasized the historical ties and shared commitment to Pan-Africanism, regional security, stability, and socio-economic development.
They reaffirmed their support for ongoing efforts to foster peace and build economic ties, including the joint infrastructure project for the Mbarara-Ishaka-Pondwe-Beni-Kisangani roads and the joint military operation “Shujaa” against negative forces in eastern DRC.
Ambassador Kaliisa expressed his dedication to strengthening relations between the two countries.
He thanked the DRC for hosting the 8th session of the Uganda-DRC Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kinshasa in October 2023, which resulted in the removal of visa requirements for citizens of both nations.
He noted that Uganda has already implemented the visa waiver and anticipates reciprocity from the DRC.
Kaliisa also affirmed Uganda’s commitment to regional peace and the expedited mid-term review of the 8th JPC session, initially planned for mid-2024 in Kampala, and the upcoming 9th JPC session scheduled for 2025 in Kampala.
Uganda and the DRC established diplomatic relations in the 1960s. The DRC’s embassy in Uganda has been represented by a Charge D’Affaires a.i. since 2015.
Data from the Bank of Uganda in 2024 indicates a trade surplus in Uganda’s favor, with Uganda exporting goods and services worth $540 million to the DRC, while imports from the DRC amounted to less than $100 million.
Uganda’s main exports include construction materials, beverages, and agricultural products.
The last Uganda-DRC Joint Permanent Commission meeting took place in Kinshasa in October 2023, with the next one planned for Kampala in 2025.
