Foreign relations of Uganda

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Uganda

Politics portal

General strategic outlook

Uganda is landlocked and depends on foreign imports for most of its consumer goods and energy requirements. Even before independence, maintaining an open trade route to the Indian Ocean was the primary foreign policy objective of all governments. For this reason, once the railroad from Mombasa to Kampala was completed early in the protectorate period, relations with Kenya became the government's most significant foreign concern.

During much of the period of British rule, the most worrying foreign issue for politically conscious Ugandans was the possibility that Kenyan white settlers would gain control over all of East Africa. During the 1950s, nationalism gained the upper hand in the four East African territories, the achievement of closer relations among the four also became an important foreign policy objective. Later, however, economic differences eroded initiatives toward federation and eventually led to hostilities between Uganda and Kenya in the 1980s that would have been unimaginable two decades earlier.

After independence, political issues erupting into violence within Uganda or its neighbors also caused serious strains in their bilateral relations, frequently involving rebels, refugees, and even military incursions. Because of its former colonial rule, Britain maintained a close and special relationship with Uganda. Over time, this role slowly diminished as Uganda cultivated new links with other industrialized countries. Despite its protestations of nonalignment, during the Cold War Uganda remained far more closely linked, both economically and politically to the Western allies than to the Soviet bloc.

Bilateral relations

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On December 19, 2005, the International Court of Justice found against Uganda, in a case brought by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for illegal invasion of its territory, and violation of human rights.

A rebel group operating in western Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Rwenzori Mountains, the Allied Democratic Forces, emerged as a localized threat in 1996 and inflicted substantial suffering on the population in the area. It has largely been defeated by the UPDF and the areas secured.

Israel

Ugandas relations with Israel remain uneasily strained due to the 1976 capturing of a French airliner hijacked by the Palestinian Liberation Organization in an airport in the now-famous city.

Kenya

From 1961 to 1965 the two states, along with Tanzania, were united in the East African Common Services Organization, a common market with a loose federal structure.[1]

Libya

In the past, neighbours were concerned about Uganda's relationship with Libya, which had supplied military equipment and bartered fuel to Uganda.

Malaysia

Malaysia does not yet have a high commission in Kampala,[2] while Uganda has a consulate in Kuala Lumpur and Uganda high commission in India were also accredited to Malaysia.[3][4]

North Korea

In addition to its friendly ties to Western nations, Uganda has maintained ties with North Korea.

Russia

Russia has an embassy in Kampala and Uganda has an embassy in Moscow.

South Sudan

Uganda has had very strong ties with South Sudan since South Sudan's secession and independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011.

Sudan

Uganda has strained relations with Sudan because of alleged Sudanese support for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA seeks to overthrow the Uganda government and has inflicted brutal violence on the population in northern Uganda, including rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder. In 2002 Uganda and Sudan reestablished diplomatic ties and signed a protocol permitting the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) to enter southern Sudan and engage the LRA. The protocol must be renewed periodically, and has lapsed at least twice since it was signed.

United States

Minister of Defense Amama Mbabazi of Uganda presents a drum as a gift to Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.

Bilateral relations between the United States and Uganda have been good since Museveni assumed power, and the United States has welcomed his efforts to end human rights abuses and to pursue economic reform. Uganda is a strong supporter of the Global War on Terror. The United States is helping Uganda achieve export-led economic growth through the African Growth and Opportunity Act and provides a significant amount of development assistance. At the same time, the United States is concerned about continuing human rights problems and the pace of progress toward the establishment of genuine political pluralism.

Uganda and the Commonwealth of Nations

Uganda became independent in 1962 as a Commonwealth realm, then exactly a year later, Uganda became a Commonwealth republic.

See also

References

  1. ↑ East Africa Living Encyclopedia Kenya -- Foreign Relations
  2. ↑ "Uganda Keen On Malaysia To Open Embassy In Kampala". Bernama. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Consulate of the Republic of Uganda, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia". Uganda Consulate, Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSION". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 2 February 2014.

References