President Yoweri Museveni held a high-level meeting with Massad Boulos, a Senior Advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump at State House Entebbe to discuss regional security in Eastern Congo and explore fresh avenues for American investment in Uganda.
The meeting which included members of Boulos’ delegation marked a rare but significant diplomatic engagement between Kampala and Washington under Trump’s renewed presidency.
President Museveni in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, described the encounter as cordial and forward-looking.
“I had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Massad Boulos… We discussed the security situation in the region, particularly in Eastern Congo, as well as opportunities for American businesses to invest in Uganda,” he posted, extending what he called “a warm welcome” to the visiting team.
The timing of this visit is no coincidence. Eastern Congo’s decades long instability has reached a boiling point again with cross-border threats, rebel groups and conflicts casting a long shadow over Uganda’s western borders.
Museveni’s government often vocal about regional peacekeeping efforts appears to be leveraging the moment to not only seek security support but also pursue U.S. capital.
While details of the closed-door talks remain under wraps, the emphasis on investment opportunities reveals Museveni’s broader strategy to transform Uganda into a go-to hub for U.S. businesses in Africa especially at a time when global powers are fiercely competing for influence on the continent.
Massad Boulos is no ordinary envoy. A Lebanese-American businessman, he is closely tied to the Trump family, his son Michael Boulos is married to Tiffany Trump.
His appearance in Kampala not only represents Trump’s new diplomatic footprint in Africa but also signals a possible shift from traditional state-to-state diplomacy to influence powered by personal alliances and business-first engagement.
Analysts say the visit could place Uganda in an interesting spot on the global chessboard. With Museveni walking a diplomatic tightrope between the West, China, and Russia, hosting Trump’s close ally could have implications both symbolic and strategic.
“This is Museveni playing his old game of power balancing,” said Dr. Gerald Kasaato, an international relations lecturer at Makerere University. “He knows how to keep every global player guessing, while securing what he needs domestically in this case, investment and recognition.”
As Uganda prepares for a tense 2025 election cycle and continues to navigate economic recovery, the stakes are high. The country needs jobs, foreign direct investment, and international legitimacy all of which could be advanced by deeper U.S. engagement.
