Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has asked Japan to help the country acquire road construction and maintenance equipment directly from the Japanese government, bypassing middlemen, as Kampala seeks to improve urban infrastructure.
Museveni made the request on Monday during a meeting with Japan’s Assistant Minister for African Affairs, Ambassador Takahashi Misako, and her delegation.
“We want to acquire road equipment directly through the Japanese Government, without middlemen,” Museveni said in a statement.
He said each urban centre should have its own road equipment rather than sharing machinery across an entire district.
Museveni also thanked Japan for its support for Uganda’s infrastructure, citing the Kampala Flyover, the cable-stayed bridge in Jinja and other projects.
He urged more Japanese companies to invest in Uganda, saying closer economic ties would benefit both countries.
“Our aim is global affluence, everybody to be rich,” Museveni said. “When Uganda and Japan prosper together, everybody benefits.”
Japan has been a long-standing development partner of Uganda, particularly in transport infrastructure and urban development through its development assistance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
