India has been actively engaged in building strong relationships with African countries for several years. The continent is rich in natural resources and has a large population, which makes it a crucial partner for India. In this context, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's upcoming visit to Uganda and Mozambique is an important step towards further strengthening India's ties with these two countries.
Mr. Jaishankar will start his six-day visit on Monday, April 10, and will first arrive in Uganda. During his stay in Uganda, he is expected to hold delegation-level talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo, and call on the country's leadership. One of the main highlights of Mr. Jaishankar's visit to Uganda is his participation in the inauguration of the National Forensic Science University's (NFSU) transit campus in Jinja.
The National Forensic Science University is an institution of national importance established in 2020 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. It is the first university in India devoted to the study of forensic science and its allied fields. The NFSU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes in various fields of forensic science, including forensic biology, forensic chemistry, cyber forensics, and forensic odontology, among others.
The inauguration of the transit campus of the NFSU in Uganda is a significant milestone in India-Uganda relations. This marks the first-ever campus of NFSU outside India, and an MoU is likely to be signed between India and Uganda for setting up this campus. This will not only help in building capacity in forensic science in Uganda but also provide a platform for cooperation and exchange of expertise between the two countries in this field.
In addition to the inauguration of the NFSU campus, Mr. Jaishankar will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of a solar-powered water supply project in Uganda. This project is aimed at providing clean drinking water to the people of Uganda and is expected to benefit around 25,000 people.
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Mr. Jaishankar will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora. India and Uganda have a long-standing relationship, and the visit is expected to further strengthen these ties.
After completing his visit to Uganda, Mr. Jaishankar will travel to Mozambique, making it the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to Mozambique. During his visit to Mozambique, Mr. Jaishankar will call on the country's top leadership and co-chair the fifth session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo.
India and Mozambique share strong historical and cultural ties, and the visit is expected to further strengthen the bond between the two countries. Mr. Jaishankar will also meet several other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique and interact with the Indian diaspora based in Mozambique.
Overall, Mr. Jaishankar's visit to Uganda and Mozambique is an important step towards strengthening India's bilateral relations with these two countries. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for cooperation and exchange of expertise in various fields, including forensic science, water management, and trade and commerce. India's engagement with Africa has been multi-dimensional and aimed at building long-term partnerships based on mutual trust and cooperation. Mr. Jaishankar's visit to Uganda and Mozambique is yet another significant step in this direction.
