The government has said its relationship with India is practical, forward-looking, and mutually beneficial, noting that it is supporting Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy.
Speaking during the 77th Republic Day of India celebrations on Wednesday, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs, Mr Henry Oryem Okello, said Indian investments in sectors such as energy, steel manufacturing, ICT, agro-processing, tourism, and pharmaceuticals are supporting Uganda’s industrialisation agenda, making India the country’s fourth-largest economic partner.
‘In the last five years, Indian companies have invested about $465m in Uganda, creating more than 15,000 jobs. This is a major achievement. Bilateral trade between our two countries has reached $1.3b, with Uganda mainly importing essential pharmaceuticals,’ Mr Oryem said.
He added that India’s entrepreneurial spirit, training opportunities, medical tourism, scholarships, technical support, and broader cooperation are strengthening Uganda’s local production capacity.
He noted that some products previously imported from India, particularly pharmaceuticals and agro-processed goods, are now being produced locally, promoting value addition and opening markets for Ugandan-manufactured goods in neighbouring countries.
Mr Oryem also said the people-to-people ties between Uganda and India mirror the shared history of resistance against colonialism, adding that India’s struggle against British rule inspired similar movements across Africa.
Speaking at the same event, the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, Mr Uppender Singh Rawat, said India’s Republic Day is not only a celebration of a constitutional milestone but also of the values of dignity, justice, liberty, and equality for all.
He said the friendship between India and Uganda, which has lasted more than 66 years, is built on mutual respect and shared values.
Mr Rawat added that diplomatic relations between the two countries have deepened through diversified political engagement, development cooperation, defence collaboration, capacity building, cultural exchange, and strong people-to-people ties.
‘Development cooperation and capacity building lie at the heart of our relationship. India remains a reliable partner in human resource development, building skills and knowledge across all sectors. Under the Indian Technical Cooperation Programme, India has trained Ugandans in defence, which is a key pillar of our partnership,’ he said.
He highlighted medical tourism, where Ugandans travel to India for specialised treatment, the donation of physiotherapy equipment to Soroti University, and Indian investments that have diversified Uganda’s exports to India and created thousands of jobs.
Mr Rawat added that the growing partnership between the two countries will further strengthen collaboration in human resource development and the building of knowledge and skills across all sectors.