By Sam Kutesa
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The NRM government places emphasis on international relations and diplomacy, and regional cooperation as part of partnerships to enhance connectivity in the global economy. A number of achievements were achieved in this regard.
International relations
Government supported United Nations (UN) and AMISOM programmes in the region and greatly contributed to the pacification of Somalia, South Sudan and DR Congo. This is a continuing role much appreciated internationally which has earned Uganda a reputation as a stabiliser in the regional.
Government constructed and rehabilitated infrastructure at foreign missions abroad including, a chancery and staff residential apartments in Kigali, a chancery in Bujumbura, consular and staff accommodation in Mogadishu, a chancery in Juba, a chancery in Kinshasa, staff accommodation in Copenhagen and Brussels, Uganda House in New York and a consulate in Mombasa. Land was acquired in Guangzhou, China and Dodoma, Tanzania for the construction of chanceries and staff residences. An embassy was also opened in Qatar.
Ugandans based in the Diaspora were supported to acquire passports and national IDs. An annual contribution of USD100, 000 was made to the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA).
Over 2, 000 distressed Ugandans living abroad were repatriated back during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Regional Integration
Government implemented key national infrastructure projects to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the EAC region. These include the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), harmonisation of Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure connectivity, one stop border posts along the Northern Corridor. A Project Framework Agreement (PFA) with the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium was also signed. A national identity cards project across the three states of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda was implemented.
Border reaffirmation and demarcationbetween Uganda-DRC, Uganda-Tanzania and Uganda-South Sudan was implemented.
Gratis student passes for students from within the EAC region were abolished. University fees structures for students from EAC partner states were harmonised. In addition, the East African Community (EAC) e-passport was implemented.
In terms of trade, there growth was registered in intra-EAC trade by 9.4% from USD 5.47 billion to USD 5.98 billion in 2018 and growth in total trade for Uganda alone by 21.2% from USD 1.7 billion in 2017 to USD 2.1 billion in 2018. Exports from Uganda grew by 11.4 percent to USD1.25 billion in 2018 from USD1.13 billion in 2017.
Two modular designed mobile laboratories to combat health security threats like COVID-19 and Ebola, among others, were installed.