UGANDA-VIETNAM RELATIONS: MUSEVENI EXTENDS HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.

By Caroline Ameh.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has extended invitation to the Vietnamese Leader His Excellency President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit Uganda next year.

While speaking to the invited guests  at a state dinner hosted by  President Nguyen at the International Convention Center on 24th November 2022 in Hanoi, Gen Museveni delivered greetings and salutations from the forty three million People of Uganda to the people of Vietnam.

He further informed his counterpart that Uganda will be hosting the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference in November  2023 and it would be good for H.E Nguyen to attend and further cement the partnership between the two countries.

The two Presidents on Thursday witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in Education and Training, scientific and technical cooperation in Agriculture, Information Communication Technology (ICT), and Foreign Affairs to further bolster the cooperation between the two countries.

“In furtherance of that partnership, Uganda will host the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in November, 2023.  I invite Your Excellency to attend and after the Conference, Your Excellency could put aside a day or two to see what is happening in the modern Uganda,” H.E Museveni said.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide and Uganda was endorsed to chair the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa for the period from 2022 to 2025.

According to President Museveni, If the Asian Countries and the African Countries, respectively, work closely among themselves, but also engage in the inter-Tri-Continental co-operation, the sky is the limit.

“On this occasion, I, therefore, propose that Vietnam and Uganda, look at co-operation in four areas: technical and scientific co-operation in Education, Health science (e.g. vaccines), agriculture, etc.; trade; Investments; and Tourism,” H.E Museveni said.

The President who is also the first Ugandan Head of State to visit Vietnam saluted the heroic struggle of the People of Vietnam against the Colonialism and Imperialism of the French and the Americans.

Gen Museveni who said he belong to the 3rd generation of African anti-colonial struggles, noted that the struggles of the Asian freedom fighters in China (Mao Tse Tung), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh), Laos, Cambodia, India (Gandhi, Nehru), Indonesia (Sukarno), etc., etc., were sister struggles to our own (African) struggles against what he termed as the “same pernicious enemies”.

“By 1900, the whole of Africa had been grabbed by the Colonialists from the UK, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, etc except for Ethiopia. These were the same enemies, you were fighting here in Asia, with the addition of the small Holland controlling the vast lands of Indonesia and Japan,” Gen Museveni said.

He further observed that the independence of India in 1947, the defeat of the Dutch by Sukarno in Indonesia in 1949, the Victory of Mao Tse Tung in China in 1949, the victory of the Bolsheviks in 1917, the defeat of the French by the Vietnamese (Uncle Ho Chi Mihn, General Giap) in 1954 and, eventually, the defeat of the Americans in Saigon on 30th April, 1975, became shining examples to the African Resistance, sources of inspiration and a number of them gave material support to the African Resistance.

“During your struggle, we did not do much because, at that time, we were still student sympathizers of the anti-colonial struggle. We, however, formed the Uganda-Vietnam Solidarity Committee based in Mbale and Prof. Nabudere was our Chairman,” Museveni said.

He was however concerned that the historic victory of the Colonized Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America, has, “unfortunately, not been fully utilized by the leaders of the 3 continents after our victories. There is alot of potential in the Tri-Continental grouping. We have got everything,” he said, but was quick to add that after wasting about 20 years, fortunately the African leaders realized that economic integration was crucial hence the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980.

“We now have the East African Community (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan) with 300 million People, COMESA with the 560 million people and the CFTA (Continental Free Trade Area) with 1.3 billion People. Therefore, the market is now a bit organized or is being organized and integrated. Everybody knows what the Asian Countries have achieved individually and, sometimes, working in groups, such as ASEAN,” President Museveni said.

The host President H.E Nguyen Xuan Phuc on behalf of the state and the people of Vietnam, welcomed his Uganda counterpart with optimism that the visit will open a new era for traditional friendship and cooperation and in commemoration of Vietnam- Uganda diplomatic relations 1973-2023.

He said despite the geographic distance, Vietnam and Uganda have always shared solidarity and support for each other.

“Our party, state, government and people always treasure the support by the government and people of Uganda in our struggle for National liberation. We also remember that Mr President the then member of Uganda – Vietnam Solidarity Committee took to the streets himself to oppose the invasion against Vietnam in the 1960s. This represents invaluable assets, whole affection and serves as a solid foundation to cement our strong political trust and foster our cooperation for development,” H.E Nguyen said.

The Vietnamese leader reflected on the past 50 years of friendship with Uganda, saying foundation and motivation created thus far are so stronger.

He described his meeting with Mr Museveni as a productive one.

“I highly believe that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Uganda will enter a new phase of development more effective and substantial, serving the interests and prosperity of both countries,” he further noted, adding that H.E Museveni’s visit and the fruitful talks and the agreements signed “give us reason to believe in the bright future in the Vietnam-Uganda partnership”.

“I trust that under your able leadership, Uganda will continue to make greater successes through the implementation of Uganda Vision 2040. They will certainly turn uganda into a modern and prosperous country and make the Pearl of Africa forever shine. Vietnam stands ready to join Uganda in fostering peace, development and cooperation in the region and the world,” H.E Nguyen said.

The two leaders proposed a toast to the good health and the growing consolidation of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Uganda.

The meeting was attended by Ugandan Ministers; Frank Tumwebaze (Agriculture), Dr Chris Baryomunsi (ICT&National Guidance), Matia Kasaija (Finance & Economic Development), Gen Jeje Odongo (Foreign Affairs) Permanent secretaries, Uganda’s Permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Ayebare Adonia, the business community and other officials currently in Hanoi for Vietnam-Uganda business summit.