President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has told the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Uganda is still studying the possibility of opening an embassy in the contested city of Jerusalem.
This follows a public request by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Uganda to open an Embassy in the much-contested city of Jerusalem.
Speaking at a press conference held in State House Entebbe on Monday, Netanyahu who has been on a one day visit to Uganda, said Israel was returning to Africa in a big way and wanted Uganda to consider the opportunity of opening an Embassy in the contested city between Israel and Palestine.
”I have a simple suggestion, that you will have time to consider President my friend, that you open an embassy in Jerusalem and I open one in Kampala,” he said.
However, Museveni responded in a clumsy way when said the issue much as it is surrounded by a lot of controversies was under discussion and required studying.
”The issue of the embassy we are discussing it, the good thing is with all the controversies is that there is apart of Jerusalem which under the partition plan was in Israel, so at least that is not part of the arguments, so we are really working on it, we are studying that Museveni said.
The Israeli Nairobi Embassy currently takes care of diplomatic affairs with Kampala.
Netanyahu has been struggling for his political survival after failing twice to gunner enough votes in the Knesset for him to form a government.
A number of alleged corruption scandals have been investigated involving Netanyahu and his close political circle.
The Israel Police began investigating Netanyahu starting in December 2016. Police recommended indictments against Netanyahu, and on 21 November 2019, Netanyahu was officially indicted for breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud. As a result of the indictment, Netanyahu is legally required to relinquish his ministry portfolios other than the prime minister.
Last year, American President Donald Trump broke away from the world order and recognized Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
Trump also ordered the transfer of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem stocking anger among the Palestine who see Israel as an invading force.
Netanyahu last visited Uganda in July 2016 to mark the 40th anniversary of a hostage rescue at Entebbe airport, in which his brother Yonatan died.
