Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on 11th this month traveled to Algeria on a three-day state visit at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to strengthen both county’s relations.
Mr. Museveni’s visit saw the two leaders signing a number of Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen both countries’ relations and cooperation in various sectors.
The two nations enjoy warm and fraternal bilateral relations, regional, and continental cooperation through regional and international organizations such as the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the United Nations.
Diplomatic visits
In the past years Uganda and Algeria have exchanged diplomatic visits, for example in 2015 president Museveni visited Algeria.
In June 2022, Algerian Minister of Foreign and National Community Abroad, Mr. Ramtane Lamamla paid a working visit to Uganda during the solidarity refugee summit.
Mr. Lamamla also had a discussion with President Museveni where he handed him a written message from President Tebboune on the relations of brotherhood cooperation and solidarity between the two nations.
Political strategic alliances
In November 2018 while Uganda was commemorating the 64th Anniversary of the launching of Algeria’s Liberation war in 1954, the Algerian Ambassador to Uganda Farid Boulahbel said that Uganda is a strategic partner of Algeria.
Mr. Boulahbel added that the two nations share convergent perceptions and positions on many questions both African and international consultation, far from interference, greed, and unilateral approaches in the internal affairs of both countries.
Uganda and Algeria are also partners in solidarity of cooperating with other African countries in order to defend their countries and the continent with the aim of deepening African integration and construction of African Architecture of peace and security.
In recent years Uganda and Algeria have extended the dialogue and consultation to cover New areas. Recently Ugandan cabinet members traveled to Algeria in order to strengthen the political dialogue which has existed between the two countries for a long time.
Why Algeria formed alliances
During the liberation war, Algeria had to confront a military superpower with the support of all means of the Atlantic Alliance. Within the 132 years of occupation, the Algerians did not at any moment cease fighting.
More than eight million people lost their lives in this war, 10 percent of the total population, of whom a million were martyrs in the eight years of the liberation war.
By the time the north African country gained its independence the country’s economy was extremely poor. There were no administration cadres, the level of illiteracy was high, and the natural resources were still in the hands of the colonizer.
About 8,000 villages were completely destroyed, and hundreds of forests were totally burnt down by the napalm bombs. This catastrophe resulted in thousands of orphans, some became refugees in other countries, and about 1.8 million people were displaced.
Due to the trauma, and desolation, the country went through the solution was to join the family of Nations in 1962. Since then, Algeria embarked on a vast construction campaign and the building of the foundations of national statehood, with urgent objectives being free and compulsory education, the putting in place of the industrial base, and the restoration of the national sovereignty on the national wealth, such as the land, hydrocarbons, and mines.
The principles of the November 1, Revolution also guided the external activities of the county, as soon as Algeria regained its sovereignty, the administration started getting involved in an effort of finalizing the decolonization of the continent by supporting the African Liberation Movements which during the ’60s and ’70s were fighting to liberate their countries from colonial domination and apartheid.
Political gains from Museveni’s visit to Algeria
President Museveni and Algeria’s presidents discussed issues on growing the prosperity of Africa and agreed to work together in areas of trade, energy, education, agriculture, and counter-terrorism where both nations have experience.
The two heads of nations also discussed ways of coordinating positions aiming at supporting just causes in African and international arenas.
Among other issues discussed were the USD1 billion that Algeria is planning to spend on finance development projects across Africa, building and funding a refinery as Uganda is in preparations for constructing the drilling oil wells that will be completed in 2025.
President Museveni revealed that Uganda is turning to the north African country for support by investing in the first country’s refinery. According to Museveni, it is absolutely necessary for Uganda to construct an inland refinery because it reduces the cost of transport being a landlocked country in East Africa.
The two leaders signed two memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy as well as agreements in the sectors of agriculture, tourism, animal health, scientific research, and trade.
The President of Algeria announced that 150 Algerian businessmen will very soon travel to Uganda’s capital Kampala to discuss potential partnerships with Uganda companies, with the aim of strengthening trade relationships.
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