Uganda, Russia launch city to city cooperation
The government has asked for cooperation with Russia in the sectors of water and environment.
A delegations led by H.E Ambassdor Johnson Agara Olwa held meetings with the officials from the Office of the Governor of St. Petersburg where they requested for cooperation between Uganda and the City of St . Petersburg in Russia. This happened during the sidelines of the inter-parliamentary union meetings in Russia last year.
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As a result of the meetings, the first Uganda delegation from the Water and Environment Sector arrived in St Petersburg on Monday 23 April 2018 for a five day business visit with officials from Vodokanal which is the company responsible for water supply and waste management in St Petersburg , Russia.
The delegation is led by Eng. Aaron Kabirizi, Director Water Development at the Ministry of Water and Environment. The other delegates included ; Ambassador Johnson Agara OLWA, Head of Mission at the Embassy of Uganda in Moscow ;Mr Paul Mafabi, Director Environment Affairs At the Ministry of Water and Environment ; Dr. Tom Okurut, Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority ; Eng. Richard Matuwa, Assistant Commissioner, Urban Sewerage, Ministry of Water and Environment ;Eng. Johnson Amayo- Deputy Director Technical Services, National Water and Sewerage Corporation and Ms Susan Okodi, First Secretary at the Embassy of Uganda in Moscow.
The delegation met the Vice Governor of St. Petersburg, Mr Oleg Aleksandrovich Markov who assured the delegation about St. Petersburg readiness to cooperate with Uganda in several sectors including; Water and Environment , Health Sector , Education, Tourism and Hospitality , Transportation, Construction among others . He welcomed Uganda to suggest areas of interest to them and they will be happy to partner with Uganda.
Mr Markov also mentioned that it would be important for Uganda and St Petersburg to sign a memorandum of understanding as a framework for cooperation.
The Vice Governor also suggested a city to city cooperation between Kampala and St. Petersburg.
Uganda and Russian hold Joint Permanent Technical Cooperation meetings annually and this coming May 2018 the meetings will be held in Moscow . This will provide an opportunity to consider and sign a number of Memorandums of Understanding between different sectors in the two countries.
