Indian-Ugandan relations growing - envoy

By Raymond Baguma  
                                           
The Indian High Commissioner to Uganda Shri Saumendra Nath Ray has hailed the cordial relations existing between his country and Uganda.

High Commissioner Shri was Thursday speaking at the official reception to celebrate 67 years of India’s independence.

The day was marked with a cocktail at his residence in Kololo. India attained independence on 15th August 1947, ending 200 years of colonial rule under Britain.

“We value our friendship with Uganda. I believe the partnership will grow stronger in the coming years,” remarked Shri.

Present were members of the Indian community resident in Uganda, Ugandan-Asians, diplomats from foreign missions accredited to Uganda, as well as Uganda government officials.

Shri added that India is a preferred destination of training for Ugandan students who return to Uganda with skills, while India’s flourishing private sector looks at Uganda as an important investment destination.

He paid tribute to India’s independence era freedom fighters and patriots who sacrificed their lives for a better India, which today is the world’s largest democracy, and one of the largest and fastest growing economies of the world.

The minister of foreign affairs Sam Kutesa who represented Government said Indian independence activists such as Mahatma Gandhi provided inspiration to African independence struggles, including Uganda.

Also, the high-level visits by officials from the two countries including Presidents, has further augmented the existing bilateral relations, minister Kutesa noted.

He said whereas India established diplomatic ties with Uganda in 1962, relations had begun earlier with the construction of the Uganda Railway; and hailed the Indian community for its role in social-economic development of Uganda.

Kutesa said that Uganda’s national development priorities are in infrastructure development, energy and agro-processing; and noted that the Indian community has invested in Uganda’s pharmaceutical, construction, Information Technology, and hospitality sectors.