Museveni applauds UK for AMISOM support

By Apollo Mubiru  

President Yoweri Museveni has commended the British Government for its support towards the African Union (AU) to establish peace in war torn Somalia.

AU-led AMISOM force that is largely manned by Uganda forces and Burundi, is fighting against Al Shabaab which is a terrorist group that is sponsored by Al Qaeda.

The President was Tuesday meeting the visiting British Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, who called on him at State House, Entebbe.

Museveni and the visiting British Minister discussed bilateral and regional issues, especially the developments in Somalia. The Minister was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Uganda Martin Shearman.

The United Nations Security Council has recently boosted AMISOM’s strength to 17,700 and availed more resources so that the AU force can further contribute to the peace process in Somalia.

Since August last year, AMISOM forces have driven Al Shabaab terrorists out of the Somali Capital of Mogadishu.

Last month, the international community gathered in London, UK to show confidence in the Somalia-led  peace process and with a new mandate and support from the international community, the AU forces are expected to expand their operations in the rest of Somalia against the lawless Al Qaeda backed Al Shabaab.

Turning to bilateral relations between Uganda and Britain, President Museveni extended an invitation to British entrepreneurs to come and invest in the Ugandan economy.

He told the British Minister that he has compiled a list detailing the possible areas that British entrepreneurs could invest in Uganda. He promised to avail the list to the British Premier David Cameron.

The visiting British Minister, on his part, assured the President that the British Government is keen to promote trade between Uganda and the United Kingdom UK especially in sectors of flowers, processed and semi-processed goods.

He said the British and other European countries’ economies are recovering from the recent economic melt-down adding that this development will go a long way in further boosting trade between Europe and Africa, Uganda inclusive.

Minister Bellingham extended an invitation to a trade delegation from Uganda to visit London to explore lucrative areas of trade that the UK can offer to Uganda.