The Joint Secretary/Director General for the Ministry of External Affairs of India in charge of Lines of Credit, Suja K. Menon, has concluded a three-day working visit to Uganda.
The visit aimed to follow up on the progress of development projects facilitated by two lines of credit extended by the Government of India.
During her visit, Menon met with various stakeholders, including Indian High Commissioner Upender Singh Rawat, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MoEMD).
The purpose of the visit was to review the utilization of two lines of credit offered by India, as articulated by Prime Minister Mahendra Modi during his state visit to Uganda in 2018.
These lines of credit were extended to support projects in agriculture and energy sectors.
In response to India’s offer, MAAIF submitted the Solar Irrigation Systems Project, deemed a priority area by the Ugandan government.
This project aims to enhance the efficiency of the Parish Development Model and increase agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, MoEMD proposed two projects for consideration. The first project is the 220kv Bujagaali-Tororo Transmission line spanning 127km, requiring funding worth 59 billion Uganda shillings.
The second project involves the construction of the Karuma-Nimule-Nimule-Juba Transmission Line, totaling 411km and 301km, respectively.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Amb. Elly Kamahungye, facilitated on-site assessment visits for the proposed projects.
The delegation visited key project sites, including the Bujagali power site and Micro-scale irrigation projects in Busedde sub-county, where they were briefed by local officials.
In Jinja City, the India delegation explored potential people-to-people projects in tourism, culture, and digital economy, as suggested by Deputy Mayor Fazira Kauma and Town Clerk Edward Lwanga.
The delegation also visited the source of the Nile, where discussions included proposals for constructing a Heritage Centre to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s historic connection to the region.
High Commissioner Rawat emphasized the significance of such projects in fostering the enduring alliance between India and Uganda, particularly considering Jinja’s rich history of Indian heritage.
The visit concluded with optimism for the advancement of bilateral cooperation and the successful implementation of the proposed development projects.