The Third Session of the South Africa-Uganda Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) met in Pretoria on Tuesday with one question at its centre: can bilateral commitments be turned into working economic delivery? International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola set the standard plainly, saying the partnership must be judged by its execution rather than by diplomatic engagement alone.
The operational record so far is mixed. South African companies including MTN, Standard Bank Group, Absa, and Sanlam have established operations in Uganda and contributed to its economic development, yet Lamola acknowledged that the investment relationship has not reached its full potential. Closing that gap, he argued, requires practical measures: a more supportive business environment, immediate attention to regulatory and administrative barriers, better trade facilitation, and stronger cooperation on standards.
A central delivery mechanism is the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment. The group is intended to give both governments a structured platform for identifying two-way investment opportunities and for tracking the specific challenges businesses face in either country. Beyond investment, Lamola identified a wide operational agenda: transport, mining, energy, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications, and tourism. He also urged greater effort to help Ugandan businesses and investors expand their presence in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the movement of goods and people remains a bottleneck. Lamola underscored the importance of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement in moving people, goods, and business between the two countries. He welcomed the expansion of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system to Ugandan passport holders, noting it could streamline legitimate short-term travel for business and other eligible purposes. Broader support for business mobility, he asserted, must include improved air connectivity, efficient customs procedures, and predictable regulatory processes.
Resource delivery also featured. The two countries should advance cooperation in mining, geology, hydrocarbons, and energy resources while completing outstanding technical and institutional processes. Lamola added that Uganda’s commitment to regional integration through the East African Community opens opportunities to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area, with a more integrated East Africa, backed by better infrastructure and connectivity, seen as a significant contributor to continental economic development.
The agenda stretches beyond trade and infrastructure. Lamola called for stronger coordination between the two countries in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the African Union, focused on African peace and security, development, and global governance reform, specifically Africa’s underrepresentation in the UN Security Council. He acknowledged Uganda’s role in regional peace efforts in South Sudan, Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to African-led approaches to conflict resolution.
On health and security, the Minister pointed to cooperation needs in defence, law enforcement, extradition, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. He congratulated Uganda on bringing its Ebola outbreak under control, stressing the value of regional preparedness and African-led public health interventions. South Africa, he noted, supported the continental response, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing an initial US$5 million contribution to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Pretoria session now carries the follow-through burden: reviewing progress, clearing outstanding matters, and identifying where practical cooperation can next be delivered.