President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday received the visiting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who called on him at State House, Entebbe.
Amb Greenfield, who is on an African tour of three African countries, started her visit in Uganda yesterday where she held fruitful discussions with her host, President Museveni, on regional and security matters.
The envoy expressed her delight to be in Uganda, a country she said has a long and deep friendship with the U.S.
She extended warm greetings from President Biden to President Museveni whom she acknowledged as a pillar of stability in the region.
“We acknowledge Uganda’s peace and security mission in Somalia. Your mission has made a difference,” she noted.
On the issue of food security in the country, President Museveni informed his guest that food is available in Uganda, noting, however, that the high cost of fuel affects the transportation of food to the markets, thus driving prices up.
“The problem here is fuel. When fuel prices went up food prices also went up. But we have food like bananas, cassava, millet and sweet potatoes. Although we had drought, we still have plenty of food,” President Museveni assured the envoy.
The President, therefore, appealed to the U.S to consider separating African countries including Uganda from the sanctions because the high cost of fuel is affecting the prices of commodities due to high transport charges.
“If you really want to help the third world, why don’t you leave the third world out of these sanctions in a conflict where we are not participating. The priority here is the high cost of fuel which is affecting the price of commodities due to high cost of transport,” he observed.
On regional security, President Museveni told his guest that Uganda’s position is that cases of insecurity can easily be solved through dialogue by all parties involved especially where there is willingness to talk.
“Talking with adversaries is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity for soft landing and saving resources of time, life and dignity,” he pointed out.
Amb Greenfield was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Natalie Brown, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee and the African Advisor, Judd Deveron, among others.
After the meeting, she said she was pleased to have met President Museveni.
“Appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Ugandan President @KagutaMuseveni to discuss regional peace and security, our shared efforts to alleviate food insecurity, and the importance of democratic institutions,” Amb Thomas-Greenfield wrote on Twitter.
She acknowledged Uganda’s hospitality to Africans fleeing danger.
” Uganda is the largest refugee hosting country in Africa – home to more than 1.5 million refugees. And today, I had the chance to meet with a group of aid workers to thank them for their efforts to help the most vulnerable amid a global pandemic and food crisis,” she said.
She will proceed to Ghana and Cape Verde after her visit in Uganda.
