Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has revealed two factors that enable foreign nations to influence African countries.
Speaking after a meeting with African Inter-Parliamentary Conference, Museveni listed foreign powers as one of the problems facing development in Africa.
During the discussions which was centered around the values and sovereignty of Africa, Museveni advised presidents to resist foreign influence.
“In offering guidance, I pointed out two main challenges we must overcome. Firstly, the greed and selfishness that foreign powers exhibit in their dealings with our continent,” Museveni said.
He explained that African states should address internal issues like greed and disunity.
According to Museveni, these challenges allow foreign nations to take advantage and exploit African countries.
“Secondly, our own weakness which leaves us vulnerable to exploitation by those who seek to take advantage of us. It’s crucial to address internal issues like greed and disunity,” he said.
Museveni hosted a delegation of African parliamentarians at State House Entebbe as they concluded their second conference on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Moreover, President Museveni has been at loggerheads with the Unites States (U.S) but has maintained strong relations with China.
US-Uganda Relations
The US criticized Uganda’s new law proposing harsh penalties against individuals found practicing and supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ).
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken opposed the Anti-Homosexuality Act which imposed death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality cases and a life in prison for gay sex.
In a letter, Blinken noted concern of human rights abuses in Uganda, including against the LGBTQI+ community.
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According to Blinken, the provision of the Act undermines public health, clamp down on civic space, damage Uganda’s international reputation, and harm efforts to increase foreign investment.
“Uganda should respect the human dignity of all and provide equal protection to all individuals under the law,” he said.
He explained that the Act pose grave threats to the Ugandan people, especially LGBTQI Ugandans and their allies.
“The announcement that some provisions of the Anti-Homosexuality Act have been removed by the Constitutional Court is a small and insufficient step towards safeguarding human rights,” Blinken added.
Also Read: Museveni Honors Boda Boda Rider for Capturing Suspected Killers
Museveni Welcomes China’s Cooperation
On the other hand, China’s President Xi Jinping wrote to Museveni expressing his support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project despite the LGBTQ Law.
Museveni welcomed Jinping’s support and his invitation for Uganda’s energy minister to visit China for further discussions.
This was after a delegation from the Chinese government led by the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Ambassador Xue Bing visited Uganda on April 5, 2024.
The President welcomed China’s cooperation in the construction of a railway to the coast with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) engineering brigade.
He urged the Chinese companies to invest in value addition at the source and import finished products from Africa to reduce dependency on exporting raw materials.
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