Tanzania, Uganda pledge for strengthened cooperation

Dar es Salaam. Uganda and Tanzania have embarked on strengthening socioeconomic and diplomatic relations after the two governments recently outlined common key priority areas of cooperation.

Among others, the governments are contemplating to jointly construct the Standard Gauge Railway (SRG)line to link Mwanza, Tanzania with the capital city Kampala, Uganda to ease transportation of passengers and cargo.

Again, the cooperation will also see a massive improvement of aviation sector as both governments invest massively to revive their national carriers.

This is after Uganda President Yoweri Museveni publicly declared his government's plan to revive the Uganda Airline which will operate between Entebe, in Uganda and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, among other routes.

Meanwhile, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has already started offering both local and international flights from Dar es Salaam to other destinations including Entebbe, in Uganda.

"Completion of the proposed SGR line from Mwanza to Kampala will boost business activities between the two governments," Ugandan ambassador to Tanzania Richard Kabonero said when he spoke to The Citizen during Ugandan Independence Day celebrations held in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

The event was organized by the Embassy of Uganda to Tanzania, attended by Ugandan citizens living in Tanzania, diplomats, government officials, development partners and representatives from non-governmental organizations.

The minister for Information, Culture, Sports and Arts, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, graced the event.

Commenting further, the Ugandan ambassador expressed his optimism that the revival of Ugandan airline would accelerate sustainability of air transport services within the East African region.

"It is not about competing with each other. The move would ensure accessibility of air transport services within the region," he further explained.

Backing up his counterpart's arguments, Dr Mwakyembe reiterated that the government of Tanzania was committed to continue cooperating with Uganda in implementing development projects that would benefit both governments.

"Construction of the oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanzania is a kind of the mega joint investments that we are looking forward to implementing with Uganda in the future," he said.

The Ugandan diaspora in Tanzania on Wednesday joined their fellow Ugandans across the globe to celebrate the country's 56th Independence anniversary.

"Of course I'm happy with the way Tanzania and Uganda cooperate. Though, I urge the governments to improve business climate in order to enable the citizens to freely engage in business activities without restrictions," said Ms Grace Msuya, one of Ugandan citizens said during an interview with The Citizen in Dar es Salaam.