By Diana N. Kintu
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday met the outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, at his country home in Kisozi, where the two leaders reflected on the progress and achievements registered in bilateral relations during the envoy’s tenure.
During the farewell meeting, President Museveni congratulated Ambassador Zhang on the successful completion of his tour of duty in Uganda and wished him well in his next diplomatic assignment. The President commended the ambassador for his role in strengthening cooperation between Kampala and Beijing, particularly in the areas of trade, investment and infrastructure development.
President Museveni noted with satisfaction that Uganda’s exports to China had grown significantly, reaching USD 138 million. He described the increase as a positive trend that should be consolidated and expanded, emphasising the need for Uganda to export more value-added products to the Chinese market. According to the President, enhanced trade with China presents an important opportunity for wealth creation, industrial growth and job generation for Ugandans.
The President also welcomed China’s recent decision to remove taxes on Ugandan exports, describing it as a major boost to bilateral trade. He said the move would enhance the competitiveness of Ugandan products in the Chinese market and encourage local producers to scale up production. President Museveni stressed that trade liberalisation measures of this nature were critical in addressing trade imbalances and promoting mutually beneficial economic partnerships.
Reaffirming Uganda’s long-standing friendship with China, President Museveni underscored the government’s continued support for Chinese investments in the country. He noted that Uganda had consistently backed Chinese interests and would continue to provide a stable and predictable environment for investors. The President added that Chinese investment had played a key role in supporting Uganda’s infrastructure development, industrialisation and technology transfer efforts.
Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, in his remarks, expressed deep appreciation to President Museveni and the Government of Uganda for the cooperation and support extended to him throughout his service. He described Uganda as a reliable and valued partner of China and thanked the President for his personal commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
The outgoing envoy highlighted the strong and growing partnership between the two countries, noting that cooperation had expanded across multiple sectors, including trade, energy, transport, education and health. He observed that the cordial relations between Uganda and China were anchored in mutual respect, shared development goals and a commitment to South-South cooperation.
Ambassador Zhang also commended Uganda for creating a conducive environment for diplomatic engagement and investment, which, he said, had enabled China and Uganda to deepen collaboration and deliver tangible benefits to their respective peoples. He expressed confidence that the strong foundations laid during his tenure would continue to guide relations under his successor.
The farewell meeting underscored the enduring friendship between Uganda and China, which dates back several decades. Over the years, the two countries have worked closely on major infrastructure projects, trade expansion initiatives and development programmes aimed at supporting Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening trade, investment and diplomatic engagement, with a shared focus on sustainable development and mutual prosperity. As Ambassador Zhang prepares to depart Uganda, leaders from both countries expressed optimism that Uganda–China relations would continue to grow from strength to strength, guided by shared interests and long-standing goodwill.