Africa has a “very clear view” and knows “who an enemy is”, Ugandan Foreign Minister Abubaker Jeje Odongo told Sputnik in an interview, adding that former Western colonizers have no right to tell African states with whom to have ties.
“We were colonized, and we forgive those who colonized us. Now the colonizers are asking us to be enemies with Russia, who never colonized us; is that fair? It is not, so for us, their enemies are their enemies, our friends are our friends. There should be exclusion, there should not be an interference on that matter,” Odongo said.
The minister pointed that Uganda's military cooperation with Russia is a matter of "life and death" for the African nation, adding that Kampala is determined to preserve it despite the pressure and threats of sanctions coming from the West.
“Most of our military equipment is Russian-made and so, in spite of the so-called sanctions for Uganda, to continue to defend itself it must continue to renew the equipment it has. So the question of sanctions, it is tricky, but for us, it is a matter of life and death. And we will continue because we must survive,” Odongo added.
18 February 2023, 11:23 GMT
Uganda and Russia have long-standing relations dating back to the 1960s, and many Ugandan students have been taught and trained in Russia, the minister said.
Odongo also confirmed that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will take part in the upcoming Russia-Africa summit, scheduled to be held in late July in Saint Petersburg.