VP Alupo arrives in Moscow ahead of Third Russia–Africa Summit
The Vice President, Jessica Alupo, greets Anatoly Bashkin Gennadyevich, the Director of the African Department at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Kisige looked on at the arrival in Moscow on Monday, October 26, 2026. (Courtesy photos)
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The Vice President, Jessica Alupo, has arrived in Moscow ahead of the Third Russia Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28–29, 2026, as Uganda seeks to deepen economic, technological, educational and defence cooperation with the Russian Federation.
Upon arrival at Domodedovo International Airport on Monday, October 26, Alupo was received by Anatoly Bashkin Gennadyevich, Director of the African Department at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Uganda’s Ambassador to Russia, Moses Kizige.
Alupo is representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the two-day summit, which will bring together African leaders and Russian officials to discuss trade, investment, security, technological development and cooperation on international affairs. The summit will be presided over by Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
The summit comes at a time Uganda and Russia are implementing efforts to transform their longstanding political-diplomatic relationship into practical economic partnerships capable of supporting Uganda’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.
Addressing African reporters in Moscow on Monday ahead of the summit, Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office and the President’s Special Representative for Financial and Economic Cooperation with BRICS countries, emphasised Russia’s readiness to support African sovereignty across different sectors.
Oreshkin’s remarks placed economic independence and technological capacity at the centre of the Russia–Africa partnership.
He said the approach involves strengthening African countries’ ability to develop their productive sectors, access technology, improve infrastructure and make independent decisions about their economic development.
The Vice President, Jessica Alupo, being received by officials at the airport in Moscow on Monday
He added that the partnership for African countries, including Uganda, presents opportunities to attract investment, develop local industries, strengthen skills and diversify international partnerships in areas of interest including energy, agriculture, manufacturing, digital technologies, scientific research and education.
The summit is also expected to provide an opportunity for African leaders and Russia to review previous commitments and identify practical mechanisms for implementing agreed projects.
Discussions are expected to address peace and security, trade, food security, energy cooperation, education and the reform of international institutions.
Uganda and Russia have continued to strengthen bilateral engagement through the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
At its third session in October 2025, the two countries discussed trade and investment, agriculture, education, energy, healthcare, science, technology and defence, while calling for stronger implementation of existing agreements.
At the Second Russia–Africa Summit in St Petersburg in July 2023, President Museveni challenged Russia and other international partners to support Africa’s industrialisation by investing in processing and manufacturing on the continent instead of concentrating on importing raw materials.
Using coffee as an example, Museveni argued that African producers receive only a small share of the value generated by the global coffee industry because much of the processing, packaging, branding and distribution takes place outside Africa.
He called for investment in African factories and value-addition facilities, arguing that producing finished goods locally would increase farmers’ incomes, create jobs, expand domestic markets and accelerate economic transformation.
He further highlighted the possibility of developing Uganda’s satellite capabilities through cooperation and specialist training.
Defence remains one of the established pillars of Uganda–Russia relations. Uganda has procured substantial quantities of Russian military equipment; which Museveni has argued contributed to the country’s security and stability.
Further engagement in this sector is expected to remain part of the broader bilateral relationship.
However, Uganda is also seeking to broaden cooperation beyond military hardware by attracting Russian investment into agriculture, industrialisation, energy, healthcare and scientific research.
Uganda has been pursuing stronger access to the Russian market while encouraging investment in domestic processing.
In December 2023, Ugandan and Russian representatives discussed promoting Ugandan coffee directly to Russian consumers and businesses.
Russia’s engagement across Africa includes nuclear-energy cooperation, scientific and medical technology, infrastructure development, agricultural support and specialist training and defence programmes.
For Instance through Rosatom, Russia has pursued nuclear-energy and peaceful nuclear-technology partnerships with several African countries.
Egypt hosts the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, while Russia has signed nuclear-cooperation agreements with countries including Mali and Burkina Faso, while Uganda’s nuclear investment remained on track.
Other areas of Russian engagement include satellite-navigation infrastructure, laboratories for detecting infectious diseases, railway development proposals and technical cooperation in agriculture and industry with extent of implementation varrying by country and project.