The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo, has informed visiting External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India, Dr S. Jaishankar, that Uganda is ready to implement the Mahatma Gandhi Heritage Centre in Jinja.
“Hon. Minister, I wish to inform you that Uganda is ready to implement the Mahatma Gandhi Heritage Centre in Jinja,” Odongo said during a meeting held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kampala.
He added, “Though there were some delays in the identification of land, land has been allocated for the project and all that is left is the commencement of the design and construction phase.”
In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was visiting Uganda, pledged to build a Gandhi Centre in Jinja to mark the 150th year since the birth of Indian icon Mahatma Gandhi.
However, this was delayed due to internal (Uganda) disagreements.
The Mahatma Gandhi International Convention and Heritage Centre was budgeted to cost $15m (Shs56.5b).
At the same meeting, Odongo further revealed that India continues to be a strategic partner for Uganda in socio-economic development.
He said the projects undertaken have significantly impacted various sectors and groups in Uganda.
“I would like to note with satisfaction some of the numerous projects such as the Bhabhatron Radiotherapy machine worth USD 1 million installed at the Uganda Cancer Institute; the completion of the National Forensic Science University, the first of its kind in Africa which will be inaugurated tomorrow and the clean drinking water project in developed in Kyankwanzi,” he noted.
The External Affairs Minister is on his three-day official visit to Uganda, whose main objective is to further bolster the excellent cordial bilateral relations between both countries.
In a tweet, the EAM also said he is looking forward to productive discussions to take forward South-South cooperation.