The People’s Republic of China has donated 70 SUVs to Uganda.
The fleet of cars had been promised to Uganda as the latter planned to host the G77 Summit plus China, which was supposed to take place in Kampala in April 2020, but got cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
While receiving the cars from the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhu Qiang at the Ministry of Works and Transport in Kampala on Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said the cars will be maintained to assist Uganda in many other conferences there after.
Kutesa noted that Uganda – China relationship is growing from “strength to strength.”
“We are strengthening these ties in the political, security, economic, social, cultural and scientific fields. Uganda values our relations and remains committed to deepening them further,” he said.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Uganda, and on my own behalf, I wish to express our appreciation through you, Amb. Zheng, to the Government and people of China, for the support that China has extended to Uganda to host the 3rd G77 summit, with the provision of these 70 vehicles and also the accreditation equipment,” he said.
The cancelled Summit, Kutesa said will be hosted in the near future and that Uganda looks forward to receiving a high level delegation from China, when the Summit is finally held.
Additionally, Kutesa applauded China for its solidarity and cooperation with Africa and Uganda in particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We look forward to continued cooperation in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have received a lot of protective equipment from China. We have had a donation of 300,000 vaccine doses donated when H.E Mr Yang (top envoy to Chinese President Xi Jin Ping) was here last month, and we look forward to continued support from China and working closely together this pandemic and other fields.”
Kutesa stressed that Uganda – China relationship has now been elevated to the level of “comprehensive and cooperative status” as announced by President Xi Jin Ping when President Museveni visited (China) in 2019.”
Museveni was in Beijing twice in 2019 for Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
This, Kutesa, said shows the close relationship between both countries.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhu Qiang promised his Country’s continued support to Uganda.
“The Chinese Government will always support Ugandan Government for hosting more global events, like the Third South Summit to enhance the international cooperation and development among the developing countries,” he said.
China now leads in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Uganda.
Uganda ranks the 4th in the largest destination of China’s investment in Africa in 2020. The investment is beyond 212 million dollars.
In the field of practical Cooperation, plenty of projects such as Kampala – Entebbe Expressway, Isimba Hydro power plant, the Industrial skills training and production centre in Namanve industrial park have been completed.
The Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala applauded the Chinese Government, saying that his Ministry is the biggest beneficiary of Chinese investment in the country.
“We the Ministry, I think we are the most beneficiary of the Chinese – Uganda relationship. Talk about roads; the oil roads, Kampala – Entebbe Expressway, Standard Guage Railway which is in the offing, all this is because of the relationship with the Chinese Government. We are very happy as a Ministry that we are at the helm of ensuring that all these infrastructures are being implanted under our care,” he said.
Gen Katumba added that the Chinese Government has played key roles both in financing and actual construction of roads in Uganda.
