Uganda on Wednesday praised outgoing Chinese ambassador Zhang Lizhong for a tenure officials said helped push bilateral ties to their strongest point in six decades, marked by major infrastructure projects and deepening strategic cooperation.
Zhang, who took up his post in Kampala in 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, will return to Beijing at the end of January after four years and seven months in Uganda.
Speaking at a farewell reception in Kampala, Vincent Bagiire, permanent secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raised a toast to what he described as a period of ‘very development-oriented’ engagement between the two countries.
‘Your tenure coincided with a period in which cooperation between Uganda and China has been increasingly tangible,’ Bagiire said on Tuesday.
‘Many of us have observed firsthand the visible impact of the Chinese-led projects that have greatly transformed both the physical and industrial infrastructure in Uganda.’
He cited projects including the Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway, industrial parks in Kapeka and Mbale, and investments credited with boosting employment and domestic production of goods previously imported.
Bagiire also praised Zhang for what he called his respect for Uganda’s institutions, culture and people.
Visibly emotional, Zhang said he had grown deeply attached to the country during his posting, sentiments echoed in paintings of Uganda displayed at the event by his wife, Lin Yaqun.
‘I’d hope that I can stay longer in Uganda. Personally, I like Uganda very much,’ Zhang said, thanking Ugandan officials, diplomatic colleagues and Chinese nationals for supporting his work.
‘I’m honored to have served as Chinese ambassador to Uganda during four historic years in which China-Uganda relations made a major leap forward,’ he added.
‘These have been years of climbing step by step and building high together. It is my honor to witness the unprecedented deepening of strategic mutual trust between China and Uganda, as we stood together in upholding international justice.’
Zhang also led Beijing’s support for Uganda’s Covid-19 response, including vaccine donations, and encouraged Chinese investment, alongside cooperation in education and health.
According to Zhang, the six-decade relationship between the two countries is now at its strongest.
Bilateral ties were elevated to a ‘comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership’ during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, granting selected Ugandan exports tariff-free access to China.
Bagiire reaffirmed Kampala’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Beijing across industrialisation, energy, technology transfer, trade, education, health and skills development.
The reception was attended by diplomats, senior government officials, members of Uganda’s Foreign Service, and representatives of the Chinese and Ugandan business communities.