Uganda's High Commissioner to India Prof. Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda has presented her letter of credence to Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the President of the Republic of Maldives in Malé.
She was accompanied by Mr. Mwanika Brian Phenox, Counsellor, Uganda High Commission-New Delhi.
Prof. Joyce Kikafunda who is based in New Delhi – India now takes charge as Uganda’s fully accredited Non-Resident High Commissioner to Maldives with immediate effect.
Diplomatic Relations between Maldives and Uganda were established in November 1993 and since then the two sister countries enjoy cordial relationship.
The High Commissioner Designate inspected a guard of honor, signed a visitors’ book, which was followed by presentation of letters of credence and a meeting with the President of Maldives, flanked by his top government officials, respectively.
The High Commissioner conveyed best wishes and good health to Dr. Mohamed Muizzu from his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni.
She extended the government of Uganda’s appreciation to the government of the Republic of Maldives for their shared positions and commitment on issues of major international concern in the multilateral fora including but not limited to developmental challenges affecting the South, Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, climate change and UN reforms.
Additionally, thanked Maldives for participating in the 19 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit and Third South Summit meetings held back-to-back in Kampala, Uganda in January 2024, and support towards Uganda’s Chairmanship for the two organisations for the year 2024 in respect to the Group of 77 plus China and ongoing presidency of NAM for the period 2024 to 2027.
The High Commissioner addressed the issue of low trade volumes between the two countries and pledged her total commitment towards facilitating targeted government to government and private sector interactions with a view to improve the trade volumes between the two countries from the current USD 422,000.
She expressed Uganda’s desire to enter into collaboration with the Government of Maldives in several areas for the start:
She mentioned tourism particularly, to share experiences and lessons learnt from the Maldives flourishing tourism industry as Uganda embarks on tourism development, identified by government as one of the four key sectors to be leveraged on towards expanding the economy ten-fold in the next 15 years; visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports and foreign office consultations.
These are all aimed at giving impetus to the Uganda-Maldives bilateral relations.
Dr. Mohamed Muizzu congratulated the High Commissioner for the successful presentation of credentials.
He observed that Maldives is committed to multilateralism and takes founding principles of all international organisations it ascribes to seriously.
In this regard, he commended the Republic of Uganda for hosting of the first ever back-to-back summits of the two important organisations (NAM and G77 plus China).
He noted that the period of Uganda’s Presidency so far, had demonstrated that it was a firm believer in the ideals of the Organisation and interested in taking it forward.
To this end, the Republic of Maldives was eagerly looking forward to participating in the NAM mid-term review meeting scheduled to take place in October this year in Kampala at the highest level.
On matters of trade, the Maldive president happily noted that Uganda’s chilli has gained prominence on the Maldivian market.
He assured the High Commissioner of his government’s support and tasked his team to work with her towards expanding trade volumes between Uganda and Maldives; and actualising of cooperation between the two countries in tourism and foreign affairs as entry points to further deepening Uganda and Maldives bilateral relations.
The president further revealed that Maldives was becoming a growing tourism destination for Ugandans citing the fact that 273 Ugandans visited Maldives the previous year while 88 Ugandans have so far visited this year.
He reciprocated best wishes and good health to President Museveniand prosperity of the people of Uganda.