New Delhi/New York: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a cordial first meeting with Uganda’s Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare, congratulating him on assuming the responsibility.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to work closely to further strengthen India-Uganda bilateral relations, with a focus on development partnership, capacity building, defence training and agriculture. They also appreciated the close cooperation between India and Uganda at multilateral forums.
India and Uganda share longstanding relations spanning political, economic, educational and people-to-people ties. India has supported Uganda through development assistance, scholarships and capacity-building programmes, while Indian institutions also provide specialised training to Ugandan defence personnel under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. (Ministry of External Affairs)
Defence cooperation is an important component of the partnership, with Ugandan military personnel receiving training at Indian defence institutions. India has also maintained an Indian Army Training Team at Uganda’s Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka since 2010. (MEA CMS)
Agriculture is another significant area of cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2018 visit to Uganda, India announced Lines of Credit for agriculture and dairy production, along with support for solar-powered irrigation pumps. (Ministry of External Affairs)
The economic relationship includes trade in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, vehicles, chemicals, agriculture and food products, while Indian businesses have a longstanding presence in Uganda. (Ministry of External Affairs)
The latest ministerial engagement provides an opportunity for both countries to further expand cooperation in development, skills, agriculture, defence and multilateral issues, building on their longstanding partnership.