Uganda's water minister: Total understanding with Egypt over Nile water

Uganda's minister of water affairs Maria MotaGhamba stressed yesterday that " total understanding has been maintained between Egypt and Uganda over the exploitation of the waters of the Nile."

News reports in Cairo quoted the minister as saying in a joint press conference with the Egyptian minister of water resources and irrigation, Mahmoud Abu Zeid, as saying that "understanding is complete and deep between Egypt and Uganda towards best investment of joint water resources in the context of the initiative of the Nile Basin states agreed upon with the 10 members states of the basin.

The statement of Uganda's minister came following the call made by Uganda's President by the beginning of April on Egypt to end its monopoly of using the waters of the Nile. The Ugandan minister indicated that climatic changes resulted in dryness of certain rivers in Uganda and that need is increasing for waters in Agriculture, industry, drinking and energy." The Ugandan Minister said that she had reached an agreement with Egypt on sharing the waters of the Nile during her talks with Abu Zeid.

For his part, Abu Zeid stressed Egypt's historical rights in the waters of the Nile "are not questionable." He explained that negotiations between the two sides were made in a "friendly atmosphere."