President Yoweri Museveni has met and held discussions with a Chinese delegation from China Railway 17th Bureau Group Co. Ltd, led by the group’s Chairman for Africa Region, Mr. He Ping.
During the meeting that took place today at the President’s country home in Rwakitura Kiruhuura District, the President and his visitors discussed infrastructure development including the construction of the proposed Kampala-Jinja Express way.
The Kampala-Jinja Expressway is one of the five road projects identified in the Vision 2040 and National Development Plan II as critical for the economic development of Uganda.
Mr. Ping, the African Region Chairman of China Railway 17th Bureau Group Co. Ltd, told President Museveni that if given the opportunity, they would partner with a local contractor to have the Kampala-Jinja Expressway successfully constructed.
The delegation thanked President Museveni for uniting Uganda and presiding a peaceful country.
President Museveni welcomed the company’s idea of a local partnership saying that the move will help the country reduce the too much financial resources flight out of the country to external contractors.
“I am glad you are proposing a joint venture with a local government company. We do not want any more too much money from going out because of using only foreign companies,” he told the Chinese delegation.
The President said that it’ is only fair to have a joint venture with a government company. He, therefore, directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Matia Kasaija and other concerned agencies, to discuss the proposal advanced by the Chinese team.
China Railway 17th Bureau Group Co. Ltd., formerly called the Seventh Division of the Railway Corps, was established in 1952. It is a qualified, professional contractor of the roadbed, bridges, tunnels, airports, field road project and urban rail traffic engineering, among others.
In Africa, they have running projects in Tanzania, Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Zambia, Nigeria, among other countries.