Cuban VP jets in Uganda, explains Cuba's strength

PIC: The Vice President of the Republic of Cuba, Salvador Valdez Mesa(L) being introduced by the Cuban Ambassador to Uganda, Antonio Lius Pubillones Izaguirre(C) to Alex Onzima, state minister in vice president's office  at Entebbe International airport on October 4, 2016. Photos by  Roderick Ahimbazwe

Cuban Vice-President, Salvador Valdes Mesa arrived in Uganda on Tuesday evening for a two-day state visit.

Salvado landed at Entebbe International Airport at 5:00pm aboard Kenyan Airways and was received by the state minister in the office of the vice-president, Alex Onzima. Others who received him included the Cuban ambassador to Uganda, Antanio Luis Pubillones.

He was accompanied to Uganda by a delegation of about five people.

In his brief interaction with Onzima, Salvado spoke passionately about his country. He said Cuba has grown strong because of the need to protect her sovereignty.

Salvado also spoke about the weather pattern and the technology his country has developed to foretell weather changes. He said the technology is aimed at preventing disasters.

He will meet a number of top government officials including President, Yoweri Museveni and the vice-president, Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi.

Salvado is also expected to deliver a message from Cuba's President, Raul Castro to President Museveni.

He came to Uganda after visiting Zimbabwe and will also tour three other African countries including Botswana, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A statement from statehouse on Monday said Salvado's tour is aimed at revamping his country's relationship with old African allies and identifying new partners as Cuba's relations with her oldest foe, the US improves.

Cuba-Uganda relations

In 2014, Uganda and Cuba marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

According to Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time in the last 42 years.

The Ministry says the two countries have supported each other at international fora through the Non Allied Movement, G77 and at the UN to defend and protect their strategic political and economic interests.