Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. Jeje Abubakhar Odongo, has asked the Government of India to consider the request to grant landing rights to Uganda Airlines.
Odongo made the request during the bilateral talks with Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India, who is on a three-day official visit to Uganda.
The visit is aimed at further bolstering the excellent and cordial bilateral relations between both countries.
According to Gen. Odongo, the direct flights will enable the direct exchange of goods and the faster movement of travelers to and from both countries.
“I am delighted to say that Uganda and India share a strong relationship. We have signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in various areas of cooperation that have further consolidated and strengthened our bilateral relations,” Odongo said.
Gen. Odongo reiterated the government’s commitment to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in its entirety and to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as we commence the decade of action and delivery of sustainable development, as encapsulated in Uganda’s National Development Plans.
“Uganda is ready to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of climate change, human rights, refugees, and social development,” he stated.
He revealed that India continues to be a strategic partner for Uganda in socio-economic development, given the projects undertaken that have significantly impacted various sectors and groups in Uganda.
“Some of the numerous projects, such as the Bhabhatron Radiotherapy machine worth USD 1 million installed at the Uganda Cancer Institute; the completion of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), have been welcome and integral to Uganda’s development,” he revealed.
He called on the Indian government to continue supporting Ugandan youths in areas such as ICT, medicine, and other sciences.
Currently, there is no direct flight to India by the National Airline, which would bring an amazing opportunity to tap into this gap.
The India route would boost cargo operations given the progressive business case for India, which indicates a number of trade and business transactions between the two countries.
The India Minister is on an official visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10th to 15th.
During his visit to Uganda, he will inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja on Wednesday, 12th April 2023 which is the first ever campus of NFSU outside India.
