50602
Kampala
Uganda will today take a precarious wade into the murky waters of international diplomacy by playing host to a man Kampala’s friends in the West revile. Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, accused of seeking to possess a nuclear bomb, will fly in after meeting Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, another largely isolated - some say repressive - leader. Theirs is a company many African political executives would rather avoid to keep in the good books of western backers.
President Ahmadinejad is due, this week, to host a nuclear summit of his own ostensibly to counter-balance one in Washington barely two weeks ago during which President Barack Obama managed to wring concessions from 47 peers on reducing global nuclear stockpiles.
The stakes heightened mid-week when Pentagon announced a pre-emptive military strike on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities is “on the table” as President Obama separately nudged for fourth sanctions on Iran to be ready “within weeks.”
Mr Ahmadinejad has consistently said Tehran’s nuclear programme is entirely for civilian purposes. So is the decision to invite Ahmadinejad, whom officials say is coming here to reciprocate President Museveni’s trip to Tehran in May last year, a poisoned chalice?
“Not at all,” says Mr Oryem-Okello, the state minister for International Affairs, describing the expected talks between Mr Ahmadinejad and his host an “opportune opportunity.”
He told this newspaper yesterday: “President Museveni’s judgment in relation to world affairs should not be under-estimated. He has accrued enormous wealth of experience in handling global issues.”
Uganda under Mr Museveni, in power since 1986, has intervened in many regional conflicts with varying successes and the country is presently Washington’s staunch ally after providing the bulk of African Union troops working to stabilise Sheikh Sherif’s Transitional Federal Government that America helped install to lead Somalis.
That is why Oryem-Okello says Mr Ahmadinejad and his host will hold bare-knuckle discussions, including Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, after today’s ecstatic welcome at State House Entebbe. “It would be very irresponsible for the Iranian President to be here and the leader of Uganda, which is a [non-permanent member of the] UN Security Council, does not raise the nuclear issue,” he said.
It is hoped when Mr Museveni engages his visitor, he will gain deeper understanding of Tehran’s actual nuclear ambition and in subsequent meetings with western leaders help explain the matter from point of knowledge, not speculation. “To the contrary, this visit will enhance rather than erode our diplomatic relations with the West,” Mr Oryem-Okello said.
The US Mission in Kampala on Wednesday accused Iran of attempting to spurn the global nuclear watchdog and aiming to settle the dust over its alleged weapons programme by secretly wooing UN Security Council (UNSC) members.
Ms Joann Lockard, the public affairs officer, said there is “serious concern” among the international community about Iran’s refusal to be supplied with nuclear fuel for its research reactor as proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “Rather than seizing this opportunity, Iran has continued its policy of stalling and then derailing any international effort that attempts to come to a peaceful resolution to this crisis,” she said, adding: “If Iran is serious about discussing that proposal, it should do so with the IAEA and not UNSC members.” It is understood the Iranian leader will impress Uganda to use its seat on the UN Security Council to vote against the US-pushed sanctions.
Mr Tamale Mirundi, the presidential press secretary, said on Wednesday that President Museveni’s strong opposition to monopoly of nuclear technology by few countries at the expense of others “has not changed”. In an e-mail reply to Daily Monitor enquiries, Ms Lockard said “Uganda’s long-time friend and partner” of America and ramifications of Ahmadinejad’s visit, if any, cannot be determined this early.
With commercially viable quantities of oil struck in the Albertine region, Uganda with its new-found wealth looks the attractive political bride for suitors across the world to impress.
That is why Kampala may be less worried about rupturing good will in the sophisticated game of international diplomacy where an altercation with the West can swiftly be swapped with warm welcome by an economically and politically resurgent East.
Iranian investors
Ms Maggie Kigozi, the executive director of Uganda Investment Authority, said she has over the past few days held discussions with prospective Iranian investors, some of who plan to set up pharmaceutical industries here. “They are also interested in mining, construction, health and education sectors as well as solar energy provision,” Ms Kigozi said.
At a government level, she said Iran is bidding to build a refinery to process Uganda’s oil whose extraction is expected to begin this - or perhaps next - year. Already Ugandan bureaucrats appear upbeat about the expected windfall from taking bilateral ties with Tehran a notch higher.
Mr. Patrick Muganda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said some 85 Iranian investors, accompanying their leader aim to establish agro-processing plants in Kampala alongside modern animal slaughter houses/beef-canning installations.
Tehran is also funding a $60 million (Shs120b) one-stop business centre in Zanjani province under the aegis of the Ministry of Cooperatives to help Iranian business people obtain comprehensive investment information on Uganda. Iran is helping Uganda Police Force build capacity in public order management. President Ahmadinejad will inaugurate construction of a tractor-assembling plant at Namanve and commission a Free-Trade Zone.
Before departure on Saturday, he’s scheduled to commission a $300 million (Shs600b) Herp housing project under which 4,000 units will be erected by Ugandan businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and his Iranian partner Mr. Asheghhi Davood.
Uganda Iran Relations.
1996: Iran opens diplomatic mission
2003: Uganda embassy in Tehran opens
2003: Two countries sign agreement on trade and investment
2005: Agreement in cooperation in agriculture/food processing
· Agreement in the establishment of tractor assembling plant
· Memorandum between Uganda broadcasting television and Iranian Broadcaster.
2007: cooperation in the public sector order management
· Protocol on overseas development assistance
“This visit will enhance diplomatic relations between Uganda & Islamic Republic of Iran and not eroding away relations with the west” Okello oryemo state minister for foreign affairs Uganda
Kampala
Uganda will today take a precarious wade into the murky waters of international diplomacy by playing host to a man Kampala’s friends in the West revile. Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, accused of seeking to possess a nuclear bomb, will fly in after meeting Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, another largely isolated - some say repressive - leader. Theirs is a company many African political executives would rather avoid to keep in the good books of western backers.
President Ahmadinejad is due, this week, to host a nuclear summit of his own ostensibly to counter-balance one in Washington barely two weeks ago during which President Barack Obama managed to wring concessions from 47 peers on reducing global nuclear stockpiles.
The stakes heightened mid-week when Pentagon announced a pre-emptive military strike on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities is “on the table” as President Obama separately nudged for fourth sanctions on Iran to be ready “within weeks.”
Mr Ahmadinejad has consistently said Tehran’s nuclear programme is entirely for civilian purposes. So is the decision to invite Ahmadinejad, whom officials say is coming here to reciprocate President Museveni’s trip to Tehran in May last year, a poisoned chalice?
“Not at all,” says Mr Oryem-Okello, the state minister for International Affairs, describing the expected talks between Mr Ahmadinejad and his host an “opportune opportunity.”
He told this newspaper yesterday: “President Museveni’s judgment in relation to world affairs should not be under-estimated. He has accrued enormous wealth of experience in handling global issues.”
Uganda under Mr Museveni, in power since 1986, has intervened in many regional conflicts with varying successes and the country is presently Washington’s staunch ally after providing the bulk of African Union troops working to stabilise Sheikh Sherif’s Transitional Federal Government that America helped install to lead Somalis.
That is why Oryem-Okello says Mr Ahmadinejad and his host will hold bare-knuckle discussions, including Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, after today’s ecstatic welcome at State House Entebbe. “It would be very irresponsible for the Iranian President to be here and the leader of Uganda, which is a [non-permanent member of the] UN Security Council, does not raise the nuclear issue,” he said.
It is hoped when Mr Museveni engages his visitor, he will gain deeper understanding of Tehran’s actual nuclear ambition and in subsequent meetings with western leaders help explain the matter from point of knowledge, not speculation. “To the contrary, this visit will enhance rather than erode our diplomatic relations with the West,” Mr Oryem-Okello said.
The US Mission in Kampala on Wednesday accused Iran of attempting to spurn the global nuclear watchdog and aiming to settle the dust over its alleged weapons programme by secretly wooing UN Security Council (UNSC) members.
Ms Joann Lockard, the public affairs officer, said there is “serious concern” among the international community about Iran’s refusal to be supplied with nuclear fuel for its research reactor as proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “Rather than seizing this opportunity, Iran has continued its policy of stalling and then derailing any international effort that attempts to come to a peaceful resolution to this crisis,” she said, adding: “If Iran is serious about discussing that proposal, it should do so with the IAEA and not UNSC members.” It is understood the Iranian leader will impress Uganda to use its seat on the UN Security Council to vote against the US-pushed sanctions.
Mr Tamale Mirundi, the presidential press secretary, said on Wednesday that President Museveni’s strong opposition to monopoly of nuclear technology by few countries at the expense of others “has not changed”. In an e-mail reply to Daily Monitor enquiries, Ms Lockard said “Uganda’s long-time friend and partner” of America and ramifications of Ahmadinejad’s visit, if any, cannot be determined this early.
With commercially viable quantities of oil struck in the Albertine region, Uganda with its new-found wealth looks the attractive political bride for suitors across the world to impress.
That is why Kampala may be less worried about rupturing good will in the sophisticated game of international diplomacy where an altercation with the West can swiftly be swapped with warm welcome by an economically and politically resurgent East.
Iranian investors
Ms Maggie Kigozi, the executive director of Uganda Investment Authority, said she has over the past few days held discussions with prospective Iranian investors, some of who plan to set up pharmaceutical industries here. “They are also interested in mining, construction, health and education sectors as well as solar energy provision,” Ms Kigozi said.
At a government level, she said Iran is bidding to build a refinery to process Uganda’s oil whose extraction is expected to begin this - or perhaps next - year. Already Ugandan bureaucrats appear upbeat about the expected windfall from taking bilateral ties with Tehran a notch higher.
Mr. Patrick Muganda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said some 85 Iranian investors, accompanying their leader aim to establish agro-processing plants in Kampala alongside modern animal slaughter houses/beef-canning installations.
Tehran is also funding a $60 million (Shs120b) one-stop business centre in Zanjani province under the aegis of the Ministry of Cooperatives to help Iranian business people obtain comprehensive investment information on Uganda. Iran is helping Uganda Police Force build capacity in public order management. President Ahmadinejad will inaugurate construction of a tractor-assembling plant at Namanve and commission a Free-Trade Zone.
Before departure on Saturday, he’s scheduled to commission a $300 million (Shs600b) Herp housing project under which 4,000 units will be erected by Ugandan businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and his Iranian partner Mr. Asheghhi Davood.
Uganda Iran Relations.
1996: Iran opens diplomatic mission
2003: Uganda embassy in Tehran opens
2003: Two countries sign agreement on trade and investment
2005: Agreement in cooperation in agriculture/food processing
· Agreement in the establishment of tractor assembling plant
· Memorandum between Uganda broadcasting television and Iranian Broadcaster.
2007: cooperation in the public sector order management
· Protocol on overseas development assistance
“This visit will enhance diplomatic relations between Uganda & Islamic Republic of Iran and not eroding away relations with the west” Okello oryemo state minister for foreign affairs Uganda
