Museveni asks Putin to open Russian market to Ugandan, African goods

President Yoweri Museveni has asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to open up the Russian market to Ugandan and other African products, including textiles, as the two countries seek to deepen their economic cooperation.

Addressing the third Russia-Africa Summit, Vice President Jessica Alupo who represented Museveni said improved access to the Russian market would create opportunities for African producers and strengthen trade relations between the two sides.

“I also request His Excellency Putin to open the Russian market for our products such as textiles,processed coffee, fruits, fish products. Leather products, cereals and vegetable oil,” Museveni said.

Museveni said the regional bloc, comprising Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, offers a combined market of 331 million people.

He urged Russian investors to take advantage of the region’s growing market by investing in infrastructure, energy and other productive sectors.

Museveni said the EAC had helped member states expand their markets, enabling industries to survive and grow beyond domestic demand, which he said was insufficient for several products.

He cited sugar, maize, dairy and steel products as examples of goods whose industries depend on access to the wider regional market.

“A number of industries in Uganda would have had problems if it was not for the EAC regional market. The internal demand for products like sugar, maize, dairy products and steel products is not enough. That is how the region comes in to rescue us,” he said.

Museveni said the EAC’s regional market, which he put at 331 million people, presents an opportunity for Russian companies seeking to invest in member countries.

He also linked the regional bloc to the wider African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which brings together a market of about 1.5 billion people, projected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2050.

The President called on Russia to invest in infrastructure needed to connect African markets, particularly railways and water transport systems, as well as electricity generation.

He identified hydroelectric power, solar energy, gas and nuclear energy as areas where Russian investment would be welcome.

“To connect this market and the wider African market, we need infrastructure such as the railways, the water transport platforms, etc. There is also the need for electricity in the form of hydro stations, solar systems, gas, nuclear stations, etc. Russian investments in these areas would be most welcome,” he said.

Beyond trade and investment, Museveni used his address to recognise Russia’s historical contribution to Africa’s liberation struggles, saying the Soviet Union supported African countries in their quest for independence.

The President, describing himself as an old African freedom fighter, said he could not forget the Soviet Union’s contribution to the continent’s liberation, dating back to the 1917 communist revolution.

He noted that at the time, most of Africa was under colonial rule, with Ethiopia being among the few exceptions.

Museveni said the Soviet Union continued supporting African countries as they gained independence, citing the construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt and the establishment of Busitema University in Uganda as examples of that cooperation.

He said Busitema, which has since developed into a university specialising in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and health sciences, has an enrolment of about 9,200 students.

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