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Kampala - South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is on a two-day State Visit to Uganda, is expected to address a joint sitting of the Ugandan Parliament on Tuesday, 13 December.

President Mbeki is accompanied by Mrs Zanele Mbeki and supported by Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Jeff Radebe, Deputy Ministers Mluleki George and Elizabeth Thabethe, Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, and the Chief Operating Officer in the Presidency Trevor Fowler as well as a business delegation with interests in Uganda.

The visit is part of efforts to consolidate and strengthen political, economic and trade links between the two countries. Earlier today and upon his arrival President Mbeki held tête-à-tête with his counterpart and host President Yoweri Museveni following the official launch of the Joint South Africa-Uganda Commission.

Minister Dlamini Zuma and her counterpart Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa jointly co-chaired the ministerial session of the inaugural session of the Joint South Africa-Uganda Commission. The inaugural launch of the South Africa-Uganda Joint Commission culminated in the signing, by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of five agreements namely:
* Joint Permanent Economic Agreement
* Agreement on Police Co-operation
* Memorandum on Diplomatic Consultations
* Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Co-operation in the field of sports and recreation
* Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation.

Earlier on Monday, President Mbeki and President Museveni addressed an interactive session with the South Africa-Ugandan business leaders.

On Tuesday, President Mbeki is also expected to address a meeting of Ugandan Women Entrepreneurs and Yello Roses before returning to South Africa.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 December 2005