Uganda Open to Trading With Russia in National Currencies, Ambassador Says
06:34 GMT 18.10.2022 (Updated: 11:36 GMT 23.11.2022)
© Sputnik / Vladimir Trefilov
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Uganda has no objections to switching the trade with Russia to rubles and Ugandan shillings, with Kampala having a liberal attitude toward the issue, Ugandan Ambassador to Russia Moses Kizige told Sputnik.
"We are a liberal country. We can do [trade] in rubles … so, we do not mind," Kizige said.
The diplomat added that Uganda exports fruits and coffee to Russia.
Russia has been seeking to eradicate the dollar and euro from its foreign trade relations since the 2014 wave of sanctions over Crimea. Talks were on with Iran, Turkey, China as well as a number of African and Latina American countries. Russia intensified the effort after slapped with sanctions over Ukraine this year.
Uganda has signed an agreement with Russia's Kamaz on the construction of a plant to produce trucks for exportation to the African market, and is ready to supply electric vehicles to Russia in the future, Moses Kizige said.
"We are also open to cooperation with Russian automakers, for example, we recently signed an agreement with Kamaz to build a plant in Uganda to produce trucks to sell them on the African market," Kizige said.
He said Uganda recently started production of its own electric vehicles, and did not rule out them being exported to Russia.
"We have just started, but one day we will export Ugandan electric vehicles to Russia," the diplomat said.
Uganda has been in contact with the Russian Health Ministry to receive vaccines against Ebola and wants to continue health cooperation with Moscow, Moses Kizige said.
"We are already in touch with the epidemics control. They [Russian health ministry] already announced an offer. Uganda did well in the fight against COVID-19, we did exceptionally well. But still we need that collaboration because you have better laboratories, better scientists," Kizige said.
On September 22, Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor expressed readiness to help Uganda tackle the new Ebola outbreak by sending vaccines and specialists, two days after the Ugandan authorities declared an Ebola outbreak in the central part of the country.
Ebola outbreaks were recorded in Uganda in 2000, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The largest and deadliest was in 2000, when 425 cases of infection were detected and 224 people died. In 2019, several cases were recorded in the country.
Ebola outbreaks were recorded in Uganda in 2000, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The largest and deadliest was in 2000, when 425 cases of infection were detected and 224 people died. In 2019, several cases were recorded in the country.
Uganda acquired most of its military equipment from Russia, which contributes to the successful development of defense industry cooperation between the two countries, Kizige said.
"Of course, we already have collaboration in the military area," Kizige said, adding that Uganda acquired most of its military equipment, including attack helicopters, from Russia.
According to the ambassador, the two countries have also been successfully promoting education cooperation.
Earlier in October, Kizige said Kampala was grateful to Moscow for the training of local personnel, given that many Ugandan students had received scholarships to study at Russian universities. The ambassador also thanked the Russian government for its support in the field of defense and national security.
Earlier in October, Kizige said Kampala was grateful to Moscow for the training of local personnel, given that many Ugandan students had received scholarships to study at Russian universities. The ambassador also thanked the Russian government for its support in the field of defense and national security.
