Why Uganda’s leader was bullish on Russian FM’s visit

 As he stood on stage alongside Russia’s foreign minister, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said his country would continue to do business with Russia, despite pressure from Western allies to take a stance against Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Sat under a white tent in the gardens of State House, Sergei Lavrov and President Museveni emphasised their long history of mutual support. Both reflected on the part the USSR had played during the independence struggle in Africa. Moscow established its embassy in Uganda on 13 October 1962 – just four days after the country had won its independence.

Mr Lavrov is currently on a charm offensive tour of Africa, visiting Egypt, Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda and Ethiopia.

The event was carefully stage-managed, with journalists required to submit their questions in advance.

Very few journalists were allowed in to the press conference Image caption: Very few journalists were allowed in to the press conference

But President Museveni was bullish: in reply to one Russian journalist about whether he had felt any pressure not to accommodate Mr Lavrov or have photos taken with him, he said people would be “stupid” if they were to ask him not to have his picture with whoever he wishes.

I also got a similar picture from a Ugandan official who spoke to me at the event. He said Uganda’s leaders and those of countries like Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia – the so-called frontline states in the fight against apartheid – could never turn against Moscow because of the part the USSR had played in their fight for liberation.

Mr Museveni reminded journalists that during the Cold War he was often asked whether Uganda was pro-West or pro-East, but he always answered: “We were pro-ourselves.”

In an interview for BBC Africa Daily, Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo was more conciliatory though, saying that Uganda was soon to assume the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement forum of 120 developing countries originally set up to stop their members becoming pawns in Cold War power games.

As such the East African nation had a responsibility to ensure that all members of the international community were engaged in dialogue, he said.

Gen Odango has now been invited to visit Moscow in October in a bid to further consolidate the relationship between the two nations.

It will mark 60 years since Moscow first recognised Uganda as an independent state.

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