This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Uganda: its historical background, high-level visits in both directions, the multilateral meetings in Kampala attended by Indian delegations, Uganda's part in the Voice of Global South Summits, dialogue mechanisms and the agreements signed. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of April 2026.

Historical background

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and Uganda share historical relations spanning over a century. India established its diplomatic presence in Uganda in 1965.

The brief states that relations between the two countries have, over the years, "acquired a greater depth and breadth" in areas such as political, defence, economic, commercial, cultural, education, health and tourism.

Visits from India

The Vice-President of India visited Uganda in February 2017. At the invitation of the President of Uganda, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi undertook a State visit to Uganda in July 2018.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, led an 84-member delegation to the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, held from 22-29 September 2019. The delegation comprised MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, officers, and Speakers, Deputy Speakers and MLAs from 25 State Legislative Assemblies.

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan, visited Uganda for three days from 11-13 November 2021.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Uganda from 10-12 April 2023. He called on the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and held bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo. He also met the Minister of Water and Environment, Sam Manghuso Chaptoris, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja, and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mwebesa Francis, and interacted with the Indian business community. A G2G MOU was signed on 12 April 2023 for setting up the first overseas campus of NFSU in Jinja.

Meetings in Kampala

Kampala hosted several multilateral meetings in January 2024 that brought Indian delegations to Uganda:

  • A high-level delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh, attended the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), held in Kampala from 3-6 January 2024.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh attended the Ministerial Meeting during the XIX Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and 3rd South-South Summits, held from 17 to 18 January 2024.
  • External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Kampala for the NAM Heads of State and Government meeting from 19 to 20 January 2024, and held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. V. Muraleedharan participated in the G77/3rd South South Summit from 21 to 22 January 2024.

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, paid an official visit to Uganda from 15-17 October 2025 to take part in the 19th NAM Mid-term Ministerial Meeting in Kampala. He called on President General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and held bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister Hon. (Gen.) Jeje Odongo and the Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar. The delegation included Secretary (West) Shri Sibi George, who led India in the Senior Officials' Meeting on 13-14 October.

Visits from Uganda

President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has visited India twice on State Visits, in October 1992 and April 2008, and once officially, in October 2015, to attend the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit. The brief adds that he has visited India four times in a private capacity.

Vice President Mr. Edward Ssekandi attended the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi in March 2013. He visited India again in March 2018 for the 13th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership, where Uganda was a guest country, travelled to Mumbai to address the Uganda-India Investment Conference and met the Vice-President of India.

Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo attended the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on its sidelines on 13 September 2026.

Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda visited India in March 2017 to attend the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership. He also called on the President and the Vice-President.

Ministerial visits from Uganda recorded in the brief include:

  • Henry Oryem Okello, Minister of State for International Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the Africa Day celebrations at a summit held in Ahmedabad in January 2019.
  • Energy Minister Irene Muloni, for PETROTECH-2019 in New Delhi in February 2019.
  • Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng, for the Preparatory Meeting of the Global Fund Sixth Replenishment 2020-2022, held in New Delhi in February 2019.
  • Aggreu Bagiire Henry, Minister of Works and Transport, for the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in March 2019.
  • Minister of State for Energy Simon D'Jang, who represented Uganda at the Second General Assembly of ISA in New Delhi on 30-31 October 2019.
  • H.E. Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of State for Finance, for the 2025 Global Forum Plenary Meeting on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in New Delhi from 2-4 December 2025. He was accompanied by the Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General, John Musinguzi.
  • H.E. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT and National Guidance, for the AI Impact Summit 2026, from 18-21 February 2026.

The brief adds that Uganda has been selected to host the next Global Forum Plenary Meeting on Automatic Exchange of Information.

Voice of Global South Summits

Ugandan ministers took part in the Voice of Global South Summits (VOGSS) hosted by India:

  • On 12th January 2023, Hon'ble Oryem Henry Okello, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), took part in the Foreign Ministers' Session of the Voice of the South Summit, hosted by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
  • Hon'ble Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), took part in the Finance Ministers' Session of the 2nd VOGSS, held virtually on 17 Nov 2023.
  • At the 3rd VOGSS, held virtually on 17 August 2024, Hon. Margaret Muhanga, MOS for Health (Primary Health Care), attended the Health Ministers' Session on the theme "One World-One Health", and Hon. Henry Musasizi took part in the Finance Ministers' session on "People-Centric Approach to Global Finance".

Dialogue mechanisms

As of the brief, two Foreign Office Consultations have been held between India and Uganda: on 30 April 2018 in Kampala and on 22 Nov 2022 in New Delhi. Issues of bilateral, regional and global importance were discussed at both rounds.

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs was jointly launched on 3rd August 2022 by Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, and H.E. A. Ajay Kumar, High Commissioner of India, in the presence of Hon. Fred Opolot, MP, Chairman of the Forum. The brief states that the forum enables continuous dialogue and enhanced cooperation among parliamentarians of both countries.

Agreements and MoUs

During the Prime Minister's visit to Uganda in July 2018, MoUs and Agreements were signed on:

  • bilateral defence cooperation
  • exemption from visa requirement for official and diplomatic passport holders
  • a Cultural Exchange programme
  • establishment of the Regional Material Laboratory in Uganda