Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | All top-ranking government officials across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are set to relinquish their assigned vehicles, redirecting them for use during the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G-77+China Third South Summits scheduled for January next year. The State Minister for Foreign Affairs overseeing Regional Affairs, Mr. John Mulimba, disclosed this development while presenting a statement to Parliament regarding the country’s preparations.

Mr. Mulimba informed Parliament, “In light of constrained resources, the government has refrained from allocating funds for new vehicle acquisitions. Instead, the entire government vehicle fleet, including those used by entitled officers throughout various MDAs, will be mobilized for the summits.” Notably, China has already contributed 140 vehicles, along with 10 executive buses and five ambulances pledged by the Indian government, specifically designated for the upcoming summits.

Furthermore, Mr. Mulimba provided details on the Ministry of Works and Transport’s progress, stating, “As of now, 215,92 vehicles have been inspected, with 1,543 found to be in good condition. A subsequent round of inspections is scheduled for the end of December and early January.”

Prior to Mr. Mulimba’s statement, Deputy Speaker Mr. Thomas Tayebwa confirmed the receipt of all vehicles donated by China. He shared this information while extending a welcome to the delegation from China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) in Parliament, led by Mr. Luosang Jiangcun, the deputy chairperson of the standing committee.

The recent addition of 70 vehicles brings the total to 140, with the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhuquiang, formally handing over the initial batch to the then Foreign Affairs minister, Mr. Sam Kutesa. Originally intended to bolster Uganda’s hosting of the G77 Summit in April 2020, the event was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Speaker Mr. Tayebwa expressed gratitude for China’s continuous support, stating, “China provided a fleet of 70 vehicles and accreditation equipment to Uganda to host the Third South Summit. With the summit now confirmed for January 2024, China has generously provided an additional 70 vehicles to support Uganda’s successful hosting. We are very grateful for this support.”

Mr. Tayebwa, echoing President Museveni’s sentiments, advocated for expanded markets for Uganda’s finished goods in China as a means to boost the country’s economic growth. He called for increased technology transfer to enhance the value of Ugandan products and greater access to the Chinese market, anticipating improvements in the trade balance between the two nations. The Deputy Speaker revealed that Mr. Luosang also met with President Museveni at State House Entebbe before engaging in meetings with MPs in a closed-door session.

In early September, the head of Public Service & Chief Non-Aligned Movement Summit organizer inspected the protocol fleet vehicles ahead of the NAM Summit. Uganda will be the 5th African country to host this Summit, NAM is the 2nd largest global political gathering.