The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has commended the People's Republic of China for decades of infrastructure, agricultural, and healthcare cooperation with Uganda.
Speaking at a reception to mark China's 77th National Day and to welcome the country's new ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Wu Guangrong, Oboth reflected on more than sixty years of bilateral friendship dating back to 1962.
"The gathering here itself is a reflection of the true kinship and shared bonds between our two nations," Oboth said at the event held at Sheraton Hotel Kampala on Wednesday 23 September 2026.
Oboth singled out several flagship infrastructural projects as evidence of the partnership's impact including the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, the Karuma and Isimba hydropower dams, upgrades to Entebbe International Airport and the National Stadium.
He also pointed to agricultural cooperation through the Kibimba and Doho farms, as well as the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, as examples of tangible gains for Ugandans in the agricultural and health sectors.
Speaker Oboth reserved particular praise for Chinese medical teams, which have served continuously in Uganda since 1983.
The reception doubled as a farewell to the outgoing 25th Chinese Medical Team and a welcome for the incoming 26th, with the Speaker crediting the teams for the countless lives saved in local hospital wards.
He noted that cooperation between the two countries now extends well beyond infrastructure and medicine, spanning education, technology, culture, trade, agriculture, security, and parliamentary exchanges.
Welcoming Ambassador Wu Guangrong to Uganda, Speaker Oboth pledged Parliament's full support for deepening bilateral ties in the future.
H.E Wu Guangrong described relations between China and Uganda as a fast-expanding comprehensive strategic partnership.
He pointed to hydropower, oil, agriculture and trade as the areas where cooperation is showing results.
"Hydroelectric projects now light Ugandan homes and supply industrial parks, supporting the country's drive toward industrialisation," he said of the partnership gains between Uganda and China.
He also highlighted a milestone at the Kingfisher oil field in Western Uganda where on 2 September 2026, President Yoweri Museveni named Uganda's crude oil "Pearl Sweet" at an official ceremony.
Wu called the field Uganda's pride and an industry that would boost the economy.
On agriculture, the ambassador said Chinese hybrid rice technology is helping Ugandan farmers raise yields and keep food security in their own hands.
Wu also said that Ugandan products are gaining access to the Chinese market where the zero tariff treatment for 53 African countries took effect on 1 May 2026, and he said high-quality African goods, including Ugandan coffee are entering China at an unprecedented pace.
Other notable figures who attended include; the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Haruna Kasolo, the State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, State Minister for Finance and Economic Development (Investments), and the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission Ms. Mariam Fauzat Wangadya.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
