I look at Sisi as a freedom warrior: Museveni

CAIRO – 8 May 2018: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said that he looks at President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as a “warrior” who defends freedoms. He added that he is glad to see Egypt now enjoying a stable and progressive leadership.

Museveni explained during a joint press conference with Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday, May 8 that they discussed several things, including countering terrorism, investment and establishing a new navigational course between African countries using the Nile River.

“Allah gave us the Nile River as a natural, direct and easy road linking between our countries,” Museveni said. He added that he invited Sisi to visit Uganda and see the Nile’s source.

Museveni clarified that Sisi’s expected visit to Uganda would be a unique visit, as no other Egyptian president, pharaoh or king ever saw the Nile’s source before. “Former President Hosni Mubarak visited us once as a vice president, and I told him that he has to come back again as a president,” Museveni added during his speech.

He affirmed that Africans should stand together and unify to face all challenges and threats, including terrorism. Museveni described extremism and terrorism as the root of all the world’s problems.

President Sisi thanked Museveni for his “historical” visit and promised to visit his country as soon as possible per his invitation.

Earlier, Sisi received the Ugandan leader at Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace and several cooperation agreements were signed between the two countries.

Museveni’s visit is aimed at discussing ways to promote bilateral relations, in line with Egypt’s keenness to coordinate and cooperate with its brotherly African countries in different fields.

In June 2017, Sisi visited Uganda to participate in the Nile Basin Summit; several talks were held between Sisi and his Ugandan counterpart on the sidelines of the summit. Sisi’s first presidential visit to Uganda was in December 2016, where the two leaders praised the long-historical relations between the two countries and affirmed that efforts will be exerted to enhance the two countries’ relations and cooperation.