Egypt and Uganda Agree to Expand Nile Water and Security Cooperation

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni agreed on Wednesday in Kampala to deepen cooperation on Nile water management, aquaculture, trade and regional security. The meeting occurred during el-Sisi’s visit to Uganda as Egypt seeks stronger coordination with upstream states on the politically sensitive river system.

The talks focused on the use of the River Nile, environmental pressures on the basin, and instability across Africa and the Middle East. According to Uganda’s State House, Museveni said wetland encroachment has become a major threat to the Nile Basin, driven partly by population growth and limited economic opportunities that push people toward farming in fragile ecosystems.

Museveni proposed large-scale fish farming as one way to create jobs, preserve wetlands and expand exports. El-Sisi said Egypt would support modern aquaculture projects in Uganda and encourage Egyptian investors to enter the sector.

El-Sisi said Egypt faces severe water scarcity, with annual per capita water availability falling below 500 cubic meters. He said Cairo remains committed to dialogue with Nile Basin countries and supports fair and sustainable use of shared water resources.

The meeting came as Egypt continues to seek support among Nile Basin countries over water security, a longstanding concern sharpened by Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Egypt, which depends heavily on the Nile for freshwater, has repeatedly called for a legally binding agreement on the dam’s operation, while Ethiopia argues the project is essential for development and electricity generation.