Has Museveni state visit to South Africa solved the visa bottleneck between the two countries?
Museveni has strongly assured Ugandan investors that the South Africa will solve the issue of entry visas to that country since it is one of the crucial requirements in doing business.
At the start of this week, President Yoweri Museveni on the invitation of his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa traveled to the Rainbow Nation for a one-day state visit.
While in South Africa, Museveni attended a business summit, addressed a press conference, witnessed the signing of business MoUs and most importantly delivered some good news regarding the acquisition of visas by citizens of the two nations, especially Ugandans.
Upon the conclusion of his visit, Museveni strongly assured Ugandan investors that South Africa will solve the issue of entry visas to that country since it is one of the crucial requirements in doing business.
“On the issue of the visas I am sure the government of South Africa is going to solve this because there is no way you can do business without a multiple entry visa. If I am doing business, I should go any time I want to travel, I should not come to look for a new visa every time,” he observed.
The President made the observation at the Business Breakfast meeting with investors from Uganda and South Africa at Johny Makhathini Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, South Africa, who had concluded their two-day Business Forum at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa.
The Business Breakfast meeting was organized by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Export and Industrial Development (PACEID) Odrek Rwabwogo, to appraise the President on the outcome of the two-day interaction and engagement between Uganda and South African businesspeople.
Museveni who commended Rwabwogo for his insight to have a holistic view on identifying bottlenecks that impede bilateral trade between the two countries encouraged the idea of partnership.
The Ugandan president cited the submission by Charles Mbire who attracted MTN telecommunications company to Uganda adding that it was all because of the unseen purchasing power of Africa that multinational companies like MTN delayed opening business in the East African country.
“What Mbire was talking about was the unseen purchasing power of Africa. MTN thought that telephone users in Uganda would not reach the required number of 8,000 now they are over 28,000,000 that were all hidden, “he said.
The President, therefore, assured investors from South Africa that this would apply to other products from Uganda as the consumption will always increase.
The President also assured South African investors that his government is not interested in levying the direct tax.
The President also assured the Ugandan businesspeople of the government’s total support to enable them to grow their value-addition businesses.
“That little money of USD20 million you are talking about is nothing. We shall get it because how much money are the bureaucrats squandering? Money is not a problem. It has always been our vision and I can see the young people are getting it now,” President Museveni noted.
Adding: “I don’t have money to support consumption, but I have got all the money to support production. We shall get all the money to support all the businesspeople dealing in value addition of our raw materials.”
Rwabwogo, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties, revealed that they are going to appoint trade representatives who will work hand in hand to push their business agenda.
“We want to be able to find a way to improve the business environment in both countries by having a way to address concerns,” Rwabwogo said.
He briefed the President on their findings in the Business Summit that included bottlenecks that impede the thriving of trade between the two countries and financial support required for the implementation of some of the business ventures as well as support from the two governments of Uganda and South Africa.
