Russia to supply aviation equipment to Uganda

Henry Okello Oryem, the state minister for international relations, led Uganda's delegation to Russia. File Photo

Russia has agreed to supply aviation equipment to beef up the development of Uganda's aviation industry.

The Russian pledge comes at a time when the country has finalised plans to re-launch the Uganda Airlines services this year.

Russia made the pledge during a bilateral meeting with the Uganda delegation last week in Moscow.

The Ugandan delegation to Moscow was led by Okello Oryem, the state minister for international relations while Alexey Volin, the deputy minister of telecom and mass communications, led the Russian team for the talks.

According to a communique released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both countries, Russian aviation teams will work closely with Uganda to ensure that specialised equipment is supplied as the country awaits the revival of the Uganda Airlines.

"The parties commended the beginning of practical cooperation regarding possible supply of Russian civil aviation equipment to the Republic of Uganda and are ready to assist stakeholder organisations," the communique noted.

The three-day meeting sessions in Moscow started on Wednesday last week.

Government has already procured six passenger aircrafts for Uganda Airlines from Cananda, German and France. Regional flights for Uganda Airlines will commence by November while international flights will start in the next two years.

Cabinet has already approved the registration of the Uganda National Airline Company and appointed a board to manage the airline.

Nuclear deal

Uganda and Russian diplomats have also held talks on nuclear energy and joint security cooperation to enable Russian nuclear experts support Uganda develop atomic energy for "peaceful purposes".

"The parties welcome the initiative of the State Atomic Energy Cooperation Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of the Republic of Uganda to accomplish the consideration of the draft agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uganda on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within a mutually acceptable period of time," a joint communique between Russia and Uganda officials, noted.

The meeting was a follow up of the previous engagements on the joint development of atomic energy, which took place in June last year.

On cooperation in the security sector, Russia agreed to help Uganda in equipping the state border with high end facilities, supply equipment to ensure security at the strategic facilities such as Entebbe International Airport, power plants and also supply encryption technology to ensure safety of information transmission in Uganda.

Equipping the Uganda Police is the other initiative that Russians have pledged to undertake.

JSCODK, a Russian state energy company, will also supply energy and gas pumping equipment to Uganda.