India-Uganda Ties: Indian PM Modi tours East Africa ahead of BRICS summit

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Ahead of the BRICS summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also touring Africa. While in Uganda, he held trade talks with President Yoweri Museveni, during a two-day visit to the East African country. Our correspondent Isabel Nakirya has that story.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signed pacts on trade and defence with the Ugandan government.

NARENDRA MODI INDIAN PRIME MINISTER "We have consented to the proposal of providing $200 million of two lines of credit for the development of energy infrastructure and agriculture sector. Our area of cooperation in defence is also growing and ready to strengthen it."

India is one of Uganda's biggest import markets. Trade between the two countries has been growing, but there remains a huge imbalance. Figures from the Central Bank show that in 2017, Uganda imported close to 600 million dollars worth of goods from India. While India only imported 44 million dollars worth of goods from Uganda.

YOWERI MUSEVENI UGANDAN PRESIDENT "I had a very good discussion with the Prime Minister on how to enhance this trade on how India can work with Uganda to promote more sales into India."

India has also plans to invest in healthcare in Uganda and has offered to provide a cancer machine to reduce the number of locals travelling to India for specialised care.

ISABEL NAKIRYA KAMPALA, UGANDA "Over 30,000 Indians live and work in Uganda, contributing about 60% of direct tax collection to the economy. But these businesses are mainly privately owned and Prime Minister Modi's visit is aimed at investing more of its state-owned enterprises in Uganda to strengthen trade relations."

Prime Minister Modi will also address the Indian Community in Uganda, a local business forum and Members of Parliament before departing for the BRICS summit in South Africa. Isabel Nakirya - CGTN - Kampala - Uganda.