Uganda’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), H.E. Farid Kaliisa, officially presented his credentials to President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi at a ceremony held at the Statehouse in Kinshasa on April 10, 2025.
Ambassador Kaliisa conveyed a message of friendship and goodwill from Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the DRC.
President Tshisekedi warmly received the credentials and praised the ongoing cooperation between the two nations.
The Congolese leader acknowledged the unfortunate events of January 20, 2025, when Uganda’s embassy in Kinshasa was vandalized and looted.
He pledged support for the restoration of the mission and assured the safety of Ugandan diplomats in the DRC.
Ambassador Kaliisa called on President Tshisekedi to consider appointing a substantive DRC Ambassador to Uganda, emphasizing the importance of reciprocal diplomatic engagement.
Both leaders highlighted the historic ties rooted in Pan-Africanism and reiterated their dedication to advancing regional peace, stability, and economic development.
They expressed satisfaction with ongoing joint initiatives, including cross-border trade and infrastructure projects such as the Mbarara-Ishaka-Mpondwe-Beni-Kisangani road corridor.
Cooperation on security through Operation Shujaa, aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats in eastern DRC, was also applauded.
Ambassador Kaliisa reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to enhance bilateral cooperation, noting Uganda’s implementation of the visa waiver agreement following the 8th Uganda-DRC Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) held in Kinshasa in October 2023.
He urged the DRC to reciprocate the gesture. He also noted Uganda’s preparedness to host the 9th JPC session in Kampala later in 2025, with planning already underway.
Uganda and the DRC have maintained formal diplomatic ties since the 1960s, with trade between the nations favoring Uganda. In 2024, Uganda’s exports to the DRC totaled approximately $540 million, primarily in construction materials, beverages, and agricultural products.
