PRESS RELEASE
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 29 September 2026
Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, and H.E. Abdullah AlNuaimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates.
The Governments of Uganda and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to accelerate negotiations on bilateral judicial cooperation arrangements to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement followed a high-level bilateral meeting between Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, and H.E. Abdullah AlNuaimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, held on 29 September 2026 at the VIP Majlis, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
During the meeting, Uganda reaffirmed the importance it attaches to the strong and growing Uganda–UAE relationship, including cooperation in justice, security, trade, tourism, investment and migration. The two sides recognised that increasing movement of people, businesses, financial resources and assets between the two countries makes effective cross-border criminal justice cooperation increasingly important.
High-Level Delegations
The Ugandan delegation was led by Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Head of Delegation, and included Hon. Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, Principal Judge; Amb. Aisa Ismail, Deputy Head of Mission and in charge of the Uganda Consulate in Dubai; Hon. Lino Angunzu, Director of Public Prosecutions; Rachel Odoi-Musoke, Senior Technical Advisor, Governance and Security Programme (JLOS) Secretariat, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Vicky Nabisenke, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of International Cooperation; and Fadhil Mawanda, Acting Commissioner, Public International Law and International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The delegation also included Dr. Josephine Ekwang Ali, Commissioner, Inspection and Compliance, Ministry of Internal Affairs; Anne Nyakato, Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ashah Nabbanja, First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in the UAE.
The UAE delegation was led by H.E. Abdullah AlNuaimi, Minister of Justice, and included H.E. Mubarak AlNeyadi, Undersecretary; H.E. Dr Abdullah AlHammadi, Assistant Undersecretary; Counsellor Shahla AlGhareeb, Legislation Researcher – International Cooperation; Sultan AlNuaimi, Director of the Minister’s Office; and Shamma AlHanaee, International Cooperation.
The UAE delegation further included senior representatives of the public prosecution and international cooperation functions, including Counsellor Mohammed AlHassani, Abu Dhabi Public Prosecutor; Counsellor Ebrahim AlShemeili, RAK Public Prosecution; Counsellor Dr. Mohammed Sulaiman AlHammadi, Dubai Public Prosecution; and Counsellor Abdullah AlMarzouqi, Director of the International Cooperation Department.
Agreed Next Steps
A key outcome of the meeting was agreement to commence technical negotiations on three (3) draft agreements submitted by Uganda to the UAE on extradition; Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLA); and Transfer of Sentenced Persons/Convicted Offenders. Uganda and the UAE agreed to establish a mechanism and timeline to conclude negotiations and sign the agreements within six (6) months.
Both countries will designate focal points and competent authorities to drive the process. The Solicitor General will lead the Ugandan side, while the UAE will appoint and communicate its corresponding lead focal person. The negotiations will principally be conducted virtually between representatives of the two countries.
The two sides also agreed to establish direct communication between their respective authorities to facilitate the efficient processing of future judicial cooperation requests.
The bilateral meeting represents a practical step towards strengthening the institutional framework for Uganda–UAE judicial cooperation and ensuring that cooperation in criminal justice keeps pace with the expanding bilateral relationship and increasing cross-border interactions between the two countries.
##ENDS
@norbertmao @mojcaug @GCICUganda @Ugandamediacent
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Communications and Public Relations Office
Governance and Security Programme (JLOS) Secretariat
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Kampala, Uganda
Email: [email protected]