Uganda's Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has called for closer cooperation between Uganda and Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting opportunities in tourism, trade, and diplomacy.
Tayebwa made the proposal during a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda on the sidelines of the European Union-Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly.
"We are seeing high-end tourists coming here. We want Antigua to support us as Uganda in terms of training our people in the hospitality industry," Tayebwa said, pointing to Antigua’s advanced hospitality sector as a model for Uganda.
He also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Browne to visit Uganda and experience the country’s rich cultural heritage and wildlife, including mountain gorillas.
"I am looking to you visiting Uganda so that you can see mountain gorillas," he said.
Trade was another key discussion point, with Tayebwa expressing interest in increasing Uganda’s premium coffee exports to Antigua and Barbuda. He presented Browne with a pack of Ugandan coffee as a gift.
"You people take coffee here; we want to see Uganda coffee in your country," he said.
Prime Minister Browne welcomed the outreach and expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations.
"Your visit will help to strengthen bilateral relations," he said, adding that Antigua and Barbuda values its partnership with Uganda.
Browne also proposed collaboration in education, suggesting student exchange programs to foster people-to-people connections and deepen mutual understanding. "We could collaborate in the education system by creating student exchange programmes," he said.
