Museveni Meets Russian Ambassador
Russian Federation Ambassador to Uganda Vladlen Semivolos on Thursday afternoon held a closed door meeting with the head of State President Yoweri Museveni at State House Lodge in Entebbe.
The ‘bilateral meeting’ was announced by the Presidential Press Unit, without divulging further details on the agenda. This off scene meeting comes at a time when Russia is at war with Ukraine over the later declaring interest to join the European Union and deploy NATO forces in the country.
The outcome of the meeting is yet to be known although its widely suspected that it centered around the ongoing conflict.
Museveni Meets Russian Ambassador
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Evgeny Kalashnikov, the Ideology Head of Mission of the Russian Federation and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen Abubaker Jeje Odongo .
This meeting also comes at a time when Uganda voted to abscond from taking sides on the ongoing war at the United Nations General Assembly. Uganda was among the 35 countries including 16 other African states that abstained from the vote.
Adonia Ayebare Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations says this stand is an act of neutrality and aimed at promoting global peace.
“As incoming chair of the Non- aligned Movement(NAM) Neutrality is key. Uganda will continue to play a constructive role in the maintenance of peace and security both regionally and globally,” Ayebare posted on his twitter handle moments after the vote.
Among other countries that absconded include Burundi, Senegal, South Sudan, South Africa, Mali,Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Mozambique plus Russia and China. Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, Rwanda, Djibouti, Congo, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo voted yes.
This is the first time in 40 years that the General assembly passed a a resolution to reprimand a member’s (Russia) invasion of Ukraine and 141 of the 193 member states of the UN participated .
Despite Uganda’s official stand on the Russia – Ukraine invasion, several government officials have come out to declare their supprot for Russia.
First son and Commander of the Land Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted his support for the Russian invasion. He is urging Africans to rally behind Russia.
