Uganda has been a big beneficiary of China’s presence in Africa, with progress realized across multiple sectors.
In an interview with CGTN Africa, Uganda’s former Ambassador to China, Phillip Idro, spoke highly of the benefits the East African country has enjoyed as a result of its cooperation with China.
“The Chinese have a lot of big and heavy investments in Uganda,” said Idro.
“In the first instance, almost all the construction in Uganda is done by the Chinese – that’s number one. Two, there are very many factories that have been built by the Chinese, in Uganda, from all spectrums of business, paper, making shoes, making tiles and household making plastics, you name it, hotels.”
Idro noted that during his stint in Beijing, Uganda managed to learn a lot from China. From their development to trade, Kampala drew many lessons from the China-Uganda cooperation.
“It was also what China did in China, which we would learn from, and then also what would do with China within ourselves, and with China to do with the others – the rest of the world,” the diplomat said.
Furthermore, Idro expressed his satisfaction with the emergence of China as an alternative partner to Africa.
According to him, there is still room for even more cooperation that will lead to greater benefits for Africa.
“I think I’m so proud. When we started, I didn’t even know it would reach billions. Now it is not going to end because the mono power of Western Europe is not there. And the bipolar power also of China, I think, has not reached its maximum with Africa,” he said.
China and Uganda are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations this week.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, exchanged congratulatory messages on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
President Xi pointed out that with an everlasting traditional friendship, the two countries have established a comprehensive cooperative partnership, steadily increasing political mutual trust and deepening cooperation in various fields.
On his part, President Museveni expressed his confidence that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to deepen so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples and contribute to world peace, stability and cooperation.
