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Sub Saharan Africa

Uganda

 Flag of Uganda

Last reviewed: 31 July 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

East African Community (EAC)

The new EAC was formally launched in January 2001.  It has a parliament, the East African Legislative Assembly, and a secretariat in Arusha (Tanzania).  A Customs Union protocol, signed in 2004, came into effect on 1 January 2005.  As a member of IGAD (comprising Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan), Uganda has taken an active interest in the Somali peace process and has deployed   over 2,500 troops in Somalia as the initial component of an African Union peace support operation.

Great Lakes regional conflict

Uganda played an active role in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1996 and was one of five signatories to the 1999 Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement. Under the terms of the 2002 Luanda Agreement between Uganda and DRC, Uganda completed the withdrawal of its troops in June 2003.

Relations with Rwanda suffered over the DRC, culminating in clashes between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies at Kisangani (DRC) in 1999 and 2000. Tension was bolstered by mutual accusations of support for dissidents. The UK facilitated a series of meetings between Presidents Museveni and Kagame between 2001 and 2004 which have helped to ease the strains.Relations are now much improved across the region.

Sanctions

In early 2004, UNSCR 1533 established an Arms Embargo monitoring mechanism for Eastern DRC, with the primary aim of denying arms to militia groups and identifying those trying to supply such groups.

Uganda's Relations with the UK

Visits

The UK has a strong bilateral relationship and a significant development partnership with Uganda. There are frequent contacts, the most recent ones were:

  • Visits to Uganda by Ivan Lewis, Under Secretary of State for International Development (February 2009) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (November 2007), Prime Minister Gordon Brown (November 2007), David Miliband, Foreign Secretary (November 2007), Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development (May 2006 and April 2005), Lord Bach, Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (August 2005).

  • Visits to the UK by President Museveni in March 2009 and March 2008.  Visits by Hon Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2009 and March 2008, twice in 2007, including as a Guest of Government in September 2007, and by Hon Amama Mbabazi, Minister of Security in September 2008.

UK Nationals

An estimated 3,000 UK nationals live and work in Uganda.

Cultural Relations

The British Council in Uganda is the focal point for cultural relations between Britain and Uganda.

British Council: Uganda

Policy

For recent statements of UK government policy towards Uganda see Hansard, and enter Uganda in the search engine.

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