On August 2, 2024, General Caleb Akandwanaho, also known as General Salim Saleh, hosted Gabon’s Transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. The meeting marked a significant step in fostering closer ties between Uganda and Gabon.
During the visit, both leaders emphasized their commitment to socio-economic development and collaboration. They discussed future cooperation aimed at mutual benefits and shared goals. President Nguema, accompanied by Gabon’s First Lady Mrs. Zita Oligui Nguema, expressed a strong interest in learning from Uganda’s agricultural development programs.
President Nguema stated his intention to reduce Gabon’s reliance on food imports and highlighted his admiration for President Museveni’s agricultural strategies. He noted, “I came to Uganda to study and witness President Museveni’s framework. I am pleased to be in Gulu, where General Saleh’s agricultural ideology has made a notable impact.”
Nguema informed General Saleh of his discussions with President Museveni about enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They agreed on several initiatives aimed at strengthening their partnership. Nguema also outlined Gabon’s plans to diversify its economy, reduce unemployment through agricultural development, and promote entrepreneurship among the youth. He stressed the importance of peace and security in attracting investors.
The Gabonese President shared his vision for economic transformation, including recovering the agricultural sector, training senior civil servants, and providing free education. He acknowledged the role of military efficiency in national development, drawing parallels with Uganda’s Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) initiative. Nguema expressed challenges in agriculture and energy, noting that investing in power could alleviate poverty and create jobs, particularly in agriculture.
In response, General Saleh, who also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor on Security and Defence, assured President Nguema of Uganda’s commitment to effective bilateral cooperation. He highlighted the success of Operation Wealth Creation in integrating Ugandans into the money economy.
The Gabonese delegation included Vice Prime Minister Alexandre Barro Chambrier, who reiterated Gabon’s commitment to economic diversification. He emphasized Gabon’s rich natural resources and the potential for strategic partnerships with Uganda in agriculture, mining, and industrialization. Chambrier noted, “Gabon is a leading producer of manganese and other minerals. We see President Museveni’s vision as aligned with our ambitions for economic transformation and resource processing.”
Ambassador Phillip Idro, Special Advisor on OWC, discussed Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and the role of OWC in mobilizing communities for commercial activities. He detailed OWC’s focus on distributing agricultural inputs, promoting modernization, and improving housing.
Operation Wealth Creation, launched by President Museveni in July 2013, aims to transform subsistence farming into commercial agriculture and enhance national socio-economic development.
The meeting in Gulu was attended by several dignitaries, including the Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Jacob Oboth-Oboth, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba, and National Resistance Movement Secretary General Richard Todwong. The Gabonese delegation also included Agriculture Minister Jonathan Ignoumba and Foreign Affairs Minister Régis Ndiaye.
