On the sidelines of the Official Working Visit of H.E. Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of Uganda to Russia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gen Odongo Jeje Abubakhar held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart, H.E. Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow.
The two Ministers exchanged views on bilateral and international issues of common interest including the forthcoming Uganda-Russia intergovernmental Commission and the BRICS Summit.
Regarding preparations for the 3rd session of the Russia – Uganda Intergovernmental Commission, Hon. Odongo confirmed Uganda’s readiness to host the meeting, adding that a date for the session will be communicated soon and that arrangements are ongoing in the different sectors in Uganda, including reviewing previous areas of cooperation and identifying new areas. He assured Mr. Lavrov that draft Memoranda of Understanding have been exchanged with several already cleared for final signature.
In this regard, Hon. Odongo expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for the warm and excellent bilateral relations existing between Russian Federation and proposed new areas of Cooperation in the field of Health especially provision of Mobile Laboratories as well as in Regenerative Medicine (stem cell research and treatment); Hon. Odongo also requested negotiation and conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Externalization in respect of Skilled Labour from Uganda. Furthermore, he requested support from Russia for Uganda to obtain property or land in Moscow to establish a Permanent Chancery.
Hailing the bilateral relations between Russia and Uganda, Foreign Minister Lavrov thanked Uganda for commitment to friendship with Russia, demonstrated by President Museveni attendance of the 1st and 2nd Russia-Africa summits in person, stating that Russia looked forward to the forthcoming 3rd session of the Inter Governmental Commission to be held in Kampala. He expressed optimism for the signing of the pending MoUs and pledged to consider Uganda’s request for acquisition of permanent Chancery in Moscow as well as consideration of the request for externalization of labor for skilled workers from Uganda
On the multilateral front, Hon. Odongo requested support from the Russian Federation to enable Uganda attain Full Membership of the BRICS. Minister Lavrov welcomed Uganda to the BRICS as a Partner State and pledged support for the process to full membership. In addition to congratulating Uganda on her positive role in maintaining regional peace and security, he further expressed support for Africa on UN Security Council Reforms urging Uganda and Africa as a whole to fight neocolonialism in all its forms. He urged Uganda to leverage chairmanship of the NAM to advance the interests of the Global South.
