Rwanda’s bilateral ties with Uganda received a boost following the opening of the Permanent Chancellery of Uganda’s High Commission in Kigali yesterday.

The Chancellery, located in Kacyiru, a Kigali suburb, was officially opened by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who was in the country for the 12th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Heads of State summit.

Museveni said the move to establish a permanent embassy in the country was proof of the warm bilateral relations between the two countries.

The new chancellery was a sign that the two countries would continue to enjoy close ties, Museveni said.

Noting that his country’s trade and exports sector had grown as a result of the ties with Rwanda, Museveni promised to put efforts to an end the trade imbalance between the two countries.

This, he said, would be done by facilitating the entrance of Rwandan products into the Ugandan market.

"Trade has been more in Uganda’s favour, but in the coming days we will work to see more Rwandan products in the Ugandan market,” Museveni said.

The construction of the new chancellery cost about Rwf1.8 billion. It is expected to save the Ugandan government about Rwf90 million incurred annually in rent expenses, according to the Ugandan High Commissioner to Rwanda, Richard Kabonero.

This is the first Ugandan High Commission chancellery to be permanently owned by the Ugandan government.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa hailed the Rwandan government for the support rendered in the process of establishing the chancellery and hailed the warm ties that the two countries have been enjoyed for years.

He said the decision to have the first Ugandan-owned chancellery in Rwanda was not by accident, but rather a deliberate move to strengthen ties.

"This is proof that we have confidence in the good relations enjoyed over the years and that we plan to boost the relations,” Kutesa said.

Kabonero said the high commission will continue offering services to citizens of both nations to foster even closer ties.

He said the Rwandan government has been an active participant in fostering bilateral ties with Uganda.

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