Uganda and the Russian Federation are set to hold their Third Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation next week, a meeting intended to boost bilateral relations and finalize pending agreements.
The commission and a coinciding Business Conference will take place Oct. 7-8 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The announcement was made at a media briefing by Uganda’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Moses Kizige, and Russian Ambassador to Uganda, Vladlen Semivolos, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The objective of the meetings is to review progress on previous agreements signed during the second session in Moscow in May 2018 and to address new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that have stalled cooperation in several areas.
“Despite a steady pace, we need to actively follow up on MoUs signed… so that we can benefit from one another,” Kizige said.
Ambassador Kizige emphasized that the third session will prioritize cooperation in technology, science, energy, trade, and investment.
He noted that the partnership, which began in 1962 when Russia opened its embassy in Uganda, continues to benefit Uganda through scholarships and training opportunities.
Kizige highlighted that Russia, the world’s fourth-largest economy, has welcomed Ugandan products like coffee and minerals. Uganda, in turn, is aiming to attract Russian tourists and investors.
“For this reason, we shall hold a Business Conference on the sidelines… for which we have encouraged Russian investors to come to Uganda,” Kizige said. He added that the conference will include a Private Sector Exhibition supported by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).
Kizige also revealed that Uganda is currently processing more than 23 MoUs for future signing and that the country became part of the BRICS arrangement on Jan. 1, 2025.
Ambassador Semivolos expressed gratitude to the Ugandan government for organizing the commission, noting that hosting the event in Kampala underscores the strategic importance of the relationship.
Semivolos pointed to MoUs already signed in fields such as health, education, and agriculture. He confirmed Russia’s commitment to advancing agreements on agricultural stock and machinery supply, adding that Russian companies are interested in establishing a presence in the country.
Russia is also preparing a program to supply specialized machinery to Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture and set up a base for supplying and servicing equipment for infrastructure development.
The Business Conference Forum will feature plenary discussions, business-to-business sessions, and exhibitions intended to strengthen ties between the two nations.
