Bilateral Political Relations
China established diplomatic relations with Uganda on October 18, 1962. Since then, the two countries have maintained friendly relations. In recent years, China-Uganda relations have developed rapidly. During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2024, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Ugandan President Museveni visited China in March 2015 to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, in September 2018 to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and in June 2019 for a working visit. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two sides have been frequent. Notable Chinese visits to Uganda include: Luosang Jiangcun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (November 2023); and Liu Guozhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier (January 2024, as Special Representative of President Xi Jinping to attend the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Third South Summit). Notable Ugandan visits to China include: Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo (July 2023, attending the inaugural High-Level Meeting of the Global Shared Development Action Forum); Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama (July 2024, attending the Fifth Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation); and Vice President Jessica Alupo (September 2024, representing President Museveni at the FOCAC Beijing Summit).
Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations and Economic-Technical Cooperation
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, economic, trade, and economic-technical cooperation between China and Uganda have progressed smoothly. From 1962 to the present, China has assisted Uganda in constructing complete projects, including the Kibimba Farm, Doho Farm, Kampala Ice Plant, biogas facilities, the Food and Ceramics Research Center, the National Stadium, fishing wharves, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office building. In 2024, bilateral trade reached 1.46 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.1%. China's exports to Uganda amounted to 1.46 billion,a year−on−year increase of 12%, while imports from Uganda totaled $79 million, up 13.8%. China primarily exports electromechanical products and vehicles to Uganda, while importing goods such as sesame, timber, and coffee.
Exchanges and Cooperation in Culture, Education, Health and Other Fields
The two countries have signed a cultural cooperation agreement, and Chinese cultural performance delegations have visited Uganda multiple times in recent years. Uganda is a destination for Chinese group tourism, and in April 2005, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation Plan for Chinese Citizens' Self-Funded Travel to Uganda. Uganda hosts one Confucius Institute at Makerere University, organized by Xiangtan University. In July 2024, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and Makerere University jointly established a Climate College. Since 1983, China has dispatched 23 medical teams totaling 218 personnel to Uganda. China and Uganda currently have six sister-city relationships: Changsha City (Hunan Province) and Entebbe City; Sanya City (Hainan Province) and Mbarara City; Wuhan City (Hubei Province) and Entebbe City; Shenyang City (Liaoning Province) and Jinja City; Tangshan City (Hebei Province) and Mbale City; and Liaoning Province and Busoga Region.