Ugandan president meets UK minister for Africa

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met on Wednesday with the UK's Minister for Africa Vicky Ford.

"I hosted the UK's Minister for Africa Hon @vickyford at State House Entebbe. We discussed issues of security and trade between the UK and Uganda," Museveni said on Twitter.

For her part, Ford said their discussions included regional security and trade.

"Great start to my first visit to Uganda, promoting the work the UK is doing here. Deepening our regional trade and security partnership are important to the Flag of United Kingdom and the Flag of Uganda," she said in a tweet.

She also announced a 1 million dose donation of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Uganda.

"This support will help tackle one of the key challenges of our age & help Uganda to build back better from the pandemic," she wrote.

As of Jan. 19, Uganda had administered 12.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine out of its target of 22 million, or half the population, according to the Ministry of Health.

Uganda also started giving booster shots to priority groups, which include people aged 50 and older, health workers, teachers, religious and cultural leaders, and security personnel.

The UK has been collaborating with Uganda in research on HIV, Ebola, and the coronavirus through the Medical Research Center in Uganda.

Ford also met human rights activists. "Thought-provoking meeting with human rights activists on the situation in Uganda, We are committed to working with Uganda to improve democratic freedoms in accordance with the constitution and international law," she said.​​​​​​​