Uganda's Kampala City joins BRICS capitals initiative

Uganda's Capital City, Kampala, has joined the BRICS Capitals for Parliamentary Cooperation Initiative, a move aimed at promoting cooperation among member countries.

Sharifah Buzeki, executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), in a post on her X account, said Kampala joined the initiative on Monday at a meeting of city managers in BRICS member countries held in Moscow, Russia.

The initiative is seen as a new engagement platform for cities that face similar challenges like infrastructure development, digital governance, climate-conscious, and sustainable growth. 

It also seeks to complement traditional diplomacy, enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation, and strengthen partnerships at the municipal level.

The cities' managers also agreed to promote sustainable development of their capitals and other cities in the BRICS countries.

"We will engage in joint projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of our citizens and creating a favourable urban environment," Buzeki said.

Sharifah Buzeki

The ceremony was attended by key Russian officials, including Deputy Chairpersons of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Ryabkov, and Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, Sergey Cheremin.

Also present were Uganda’s Ambassador to Russia, Moses Kizige, and representatives from the capitals of Minsk (Belarus), Brasília (Brazil), Havana (Cuba), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Tehran (Iran), and Tshwane (South Africa).

Buzeki is leading a KCCA delegation which is in Russia to attend the BRICS Municipal Forum scheduled for October 28-31.

Uganda, starting January this year, became a BRICS partner state, along with eight other countries. 

Uganda sees the partnership as an opportunity to benefit from deeper ties with some of the world's largest emerging markets and to facilitate its own development.