Uganda is scheduled to receive five million more COVID-19 vaccine doses from the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of Health, the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Lizhong Zhang, has announced.

This was revealed during the Ambassadors’ meeting with Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gen. Abubakhar Jeje Odongo, at the minister’s office in Kampala on Wednesday (June 1).

“His Excellency Amb. Zhang informed the Honourable Minister (Odongo) about the planned donation of five million vaccines to Uganda by the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of Health,” a statement from the Foreign Affairs ministry said.

According to the ministry, the discussions between Amb. Zhang and Gen. Odongo focused on matters of mutual interest to enhance mechanisms of bilateral relations between Uganda and China.

Odongo concluded the meeting by thanking Amb Zhang for the continued support of the People’s Republic of China towards the social-economic development of Uganda. The minister assured the ambassador that outstanding issues would be raised and resolved expeditiously.

For years, Uganda has been getting support from China. During the COVID-19 outbreak, China donated hundreds of thousands of Sinovac vaccines to immunize Ugandans as part of the fight against the pandemic.

In addition to donating $100m to the global COVID-19 vaccine program COVAX, China last year pledged to donate 100 million additional vaccine doses to developing countries.