STATE HOUSE, ENTEBBE: President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda and India have agreed to strengthen commercial diplomacy and boost trade between the two countries.
During a meeting with the Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs Government of India Hon. Shri Muraleedharan, President Museveni said he would work with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi regarding India’s offer of a concessional credit facility to promote rural power transmission and value addition in agriculture.
“Indians are one of our tribes. I am glad that we have that offer from India,” he said.
President Museveni also said he would work with India on the issue of training at the National Defence College in Jinja.
“We shall work with the Indian side on the National Defence College where they normally come to train,” he said.
On the issue of climate change, President Museveni was happy that India was willing to collaborate with Uganda to provide affordable solar power.
“Once we resolve the cost, solar power would be the answer. Africans were using sun and wind long time ago before these dead fuels. The problem came from out. The world is coming back to sun and wind,” he said.
The two leaders discussed various issues including reduction of taxes on Uganda’s products including milk, Cocoa and Coffee. They also discussed the construction of the Mahatma Ghandi Convention and Conference Centre in Entebbe where government has donated 15 acres of Land for the project. The promise to allocate the land was made by government in 2018 during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Uganda. Government has also allocated land for the Ghandi Cultural Centre in Jinja. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen collaboration in Defense training at the National Defense College in Jinja.
Hon. Shri Muraleedharan who is on a three day working visit to Uganda brought warm greetings from India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi to President Museveni and the people of Uganda.
He thanked President Museveni for his support of the Indian Community in Uganda and for supporting India at the UN Security Council and assured President Museveni that his government will arrange for a subsidy in solar energy generation through the New Delhi based International Solar Alliance.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Puneet R. Kundal Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa) Division Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Mr. Chandru Appar Deputy Secretary (Minister’s office) Ministry of External Affairs Government of India; Dr. Prakash Shelat Under Secretary (East & Southern Africa) Division Ministry of External Affairs Government of India; H.E. Ajay Kumar, High Commissioner of India to Uganda; Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hon. Okello Oryem and Uganda’s High Commissioner to India Amb. Grace Akello among others.
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