President El-Sisi and Yoweri Museveni hold joint press conference following a meeting in Cairo, Egypt|Courtesy

Egyptian President and Ugandan Counterpart Yowri Museveni have signed a $6 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for integrated water resource management – with Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirming  to support the construction of the Angololo Dam between Uganda and Kenya.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced this following his meeting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s official visit to Cairo where he received him for bilateral talks.

In his speech published on the Presidential website on Tuesday, El-Sisi explained the strategic nature of the partnership, particularly in managing the shared waters of the Nile River.

“We signed a new MoU today… aimed at preserving the Nile River’s environment and developing its resources, with a total value of $6 million over five years,” he said.

El-Sisi said the agreement builds on over two decades of cooperation between the two nations.

Another key highlight of the talks was Egypt’s pledge to contribute funding to the Angololo Dam project through a $100 million infrastructure investment mechanism for the Nile Basin.

The dam, a joint project between Uganda and Kenya, is seen as a cornerstone for regional water security and agricultural development.

Two presidents covered a wide range of sectors including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, and defense cooperation.

El-Sisi announced the formation of a joint business council and a business forum to identify new investment opportunities.

On the critical issue of Nile water sharing, both leaders underscored the need for mutual benefit and cooperation among all basin countries.

“Without preserving the environment of the Nile Basin, we will have nothing to share,”

President Museveni stated during the talks—a sentiment El-Sisi echoed, reinforcing Egypt’s position against any unilateral actions that could threaten its water security.

“Abandoning any part of [the Nile] means abandoning our lives. This will not happen,” El-Sisi warned, while reaffirming that Egypt supports development across the Nile Basin, provided it does not impact downstream water flow.

El-Sisi also stressed Egypt’s reliance on Uganda’s leadership within the seven-nation Nile committee to reach a comprehensive and inclusive agreement on water usage, calling on all basin states to work together towards stability and prosperity.