President Museveni encountered his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ongoing Second Russia-Africa Summit on July 27, 2023. During the meeting, Museveni called on President Putin to support value addition in Africa and to stop importing raw materials from the continent.
President Museveni identified areas of cooperation with Russia such as oil exploration, nuclear power energy fertilizers, pathogenic economics, electric batteries, and space science, which would allow Uganda to establish its specialized satellite.
“In respect, I have invited Russia to take an interest in many business opportunities in the fields of oil and gas, agriculture production, the pathogenic economy, industry and space science,” he said.
He noted that, Africa can be a potential player in the global economy, and Africa needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and start adding value to its products
President Museveni added that, Russia can play a major role in the global economy by investing in African industries and helping to create a market for the African goods.
“On the military, Uganda has managed to become an island of peace in this part of the world, due to its cooperation through procurement of equipment from Russia over the years,” he said.
However, President Putin said that, Russia is interested in cooperating with Africa on several issues, including trade, investment, and security.
He agreed with what President Museveni said about how Africa needs to add value to its products, adding that, Russia is ready to help African countries in achieving it.
Putin said that, Uganda remains one of Russia’s vital allies on the African continent with diplomatic relations that have stretched for over 60 years.
He further added that, the good relationship in trade cooperation between Uganda and Russia has grown five times in the last six months compared to last year.
Putin promised that, the Russian government would double scholarships to Ugandans and upgrade two modern mobile laboratories that can diagnose many diseases counting epidemic ones.
The meeting was attended by General Jeje Odongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, Minister of Defence, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the Senior Presidential Advisor in-charge of Security Affairs, among others.
