Uganda and Egypt strike spy deal amid dam dispute

By Patricia Oyella

Uganda and Egypt have signed an agreement to share intelligence amid escalating tensions in the region over the building of a mega dam by Ethiopia on a tributary of the River Nile.

In a statement, Uganda's army said the deal was reached in talks on Wednesday between senior military intelligence officials of the two countries.

"The fact that Uganda and Egypt share the Nile, co-operation between the two countries is inevitable because what affects Ugandans will in one way or another affect Egypt," the statement quoted the head of the Egyptian delegation, Major General Sameh Saber El-Degwi, as saying.

The dam has long been a source of tension between Egypt and Ethiopia, with then-US President Donald Trump warning last year that Egypt might blow it up.

Ethiopia sees the hydroelectric project as crucial for its economic growth and a vital source of energy.

But Egypt and Sudan, which are downstream, fear the $4bn (£3bn) dam will greatly reduce their access to water.

Uganda is the source of the White Nile, while the Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia.

Three-way talks, brokered by the Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi, collapsed on Tuesday.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Getty Images]