adminBeijing’s defence minister, a spokesman for the Ugandan army said yesterday.
The Chinese delegation, led by Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, signed a deal with Kampala including support for Uganda’s troops in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), protecting the Western-backed government there.
“The agreement we signed was for 15 million yuan in support for the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) for its operations as part of AMISOM and for domestic capacity building,” said army spokesman Felix Kulayigye.
Uganda is one of only two countries currently contributing troops to the 9 700-strong AU force, which is battling Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents.
There were no further details as to exactly what the military support entailed.
Chinese officials also said that Beijing was looking to build road and railway infrastructure in Uganda during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, the Ugandan president’s office said in a statement.
“The visiting Chinese Defence Minister said that Chinese companies would be interested in the construction of railways and roads in Uganda,” the statement released late Tuesday read.
During the meeting Museveni hailed growing ties between Uganda and China and forecast increased trade links.
“We look forward to having more trade with China. Uganda always welcomes support from China,” Museveni said, according to the official statement.
China has ratcheted up its involvement in Uganda in recent years and has pledged to build a new toll road linking the Ugandan capital Kampala to the nearby airport town of Entebbe.
Chinese state-owned oil company CNOOC is currently awaiting final approval of a $2,9 billion joint deal with France’s Total to buy two-thirds of Anglo-Irish firm Tullow Oil’s interests in Uganda’s embryonic oil industry.
Final approval of the deal – which would see massive investment in Uganda’s oil sector – is currently being delayed by wrangles in the country’s parliament over allegations of official corruption in the burgeoning industry. – AFP.
Online Reporter