By Spy Uganda
Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo Abubakhar, on 9 September 2025 held high-level talks with Her Excellency Fatima Fernandes Juarez, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala. The discussions underscored both governments’ shared resolve to reinforce their ties and broaden cooperation in strategic sectors.
Welcoming the envoy and her delegation, Gen. Odongo applauded the friendly and mutually respectful relations that have defined the Kampala–Caracas connection for years. Ambassador Fernandez, on her part, proposed the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) to institutionalize collaboration across fields such as energy, education, and trade. She also extended an invitation for the Ugandan minister to pay an official visit to Venezuela in October 2025 to advance these conversations.
Background to Uganda–Venezuela Relations
Uganda and Venezuela have nurtured cordial diplomatic relations for decades, anchored in their mutual commitment to South–South cooperation and solidarity within multilateral bodies. Both nations belong to the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 (G77) and have often backed each other’s positions at the United Nations and other international platforms.
In the early 2000s, Venezuela—under the late President Hugo Chávez—embarked on an ambitious outreach to African states, including Uganda. This policy opened avenues for high-level visits, educational scholarships, and agreements in energy and skills development. Uganda, in return, consistently expressed support for Venezuela’s stance on sovereignty and self-determination, while Venezuela endorsed African-led initiatives on development and integration.
Though geographically distant, the two countries’ interests converge in several areas. Uganda’s rapidly expanding oil and gas industry benefits from Venezuela’s extensive expertise in petroleum management, while Venezuela’s technical and educational programmes present opportunities for Ugandan youth. Both governments have also shown interest in partnering on agriculture, healthcare, and cultural exchanges to enhance people-to-people ties.
Prospects for a Joint Permanent Commission
The envisaged Joint Permanent Commission would provide a structured platform for regular consultations, evaluation of ongoing projects, and negotiation of new accords. This aligns with Uganda’s wider foreign policy objective of diversifying partnerships beyond its traditional allies, and with Venezuela’s strategy of consolidating its ties with Africa.
Gen. Odongo’s forthcoming October visit to Venezuela is expected to cement these efforts. Officials on both sides anticipate discussions on joint investments in infrastructure, energy cooperation, academic exchange, and closer coordination in multilateral diplomacy. Observers believe such engagement could elevate Uganda–Venezuela relations to a new level and strengthen their joint advocacy for equitable global development.
The Kampala talks between Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo Abubakhar and Ambassador Fatima Fernandes Juarez mark a fresh chapter in the longstanding friendship between Uganda and Venezuela. With a Joint Permanent Commission on the horizon and a high-profile visit to Caracas slated for October, both nations are poised to convert decades of goodwill into tangible projects and deeper collaboration across multiple sectors.
