Rwanda and Uganda have officially launched the 12th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kampala, bringing together senior government officials to strengthen cooperation in trade, security, and regional development.
Senior officials from Uganda and Rwanda opened discussions on Monday on ways to overcome shared challenges and seize opportunities in infrastructure development, trade facilitation and other key sectors as the 12th session of the Uganda-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission got underway at the Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
The three-day meeting, running from April 20-22, brings together more than 15 ministries and agencies from both countries to review progress since the last session in Kigali in March 2023 and to identify concrete steps for deeper bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, hosted at Mestil Hotel, is being led on the Rwandan side by Teta Gisa, Director General for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Uganda’s delegation is headed by Richard Kabonero, in charge of Regional Economic Cooperation. The session began with technical discussions setting the stage for high-level engagements aimed at improving everyday cross-border interactions.
In opening remarks, Ambassador Richard Kabonero, head of the Regional Economic Cooperation Department at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the strong geographical, historic and cultural ties binding the two neighbours, while stressing the need to address emerging challenges described as “problems without passports” — including pandemics, zoonotic diseases, climate change, human and wildlife trafficking, and cybercrimes.
A major focus is easing trade and investment within the framework of the East African Community, particularly by addressing long-standing barriers that have affected businesses and traders. Key sectors under discussion include agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and tourism, all seen as drivers of shared economic growth.
Trade between the two countries, once exceeding $200 million annually, declined during the 2019–2022 border tensions but has been steadily recovering since the reopening in 2022. Officials are now looking to accelerate that recovery while also reviewing progress made since the 11th JPC held in Kigali in 2023.
Beyond trade, both sides are reaffirming commitments in defence and security cooperation, infrastructure development, migration management, police collaboration, and education. The outcomes of this commission are expected to deliver concrete steps toward deeper integration, in line with continental ambitions such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes inclusive growth and stronger regional unity.
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