President Yoweri Museveni has courted Ugandan allies like the Christians and African- Americans to support the country’s textile sector in order to push its industrialization agenda.
According to Museveni, Uganda has got good cotton and lately its being turned into fabric and garments by local industries.
“We had even gotten orders from the United States for textile, then some of those companies cancelled the orders due to our stand against homosexuality,” he disclosed.
“What I’m going to do is to ban secondhand clothes and our people here will buy the clothes from the factories but I also want to check with our Christian allies and our African- American people whether you will buy our clothes also,” he added.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday while meeting a delegation of Born-Again Christian leaders in Uganda and outside countries such as the United States at State House Entebbe.
Museveni also noted that if countries link through the market and add value to their products, in a very short period of time, Africa will be far, in terms of development.
He further explained to his guests that the reason why African countries are still lagging behind is due to loss of value for their products.
“I think the African people on the globe should see how to resolve the issue of linking the market, what I produce you buy and what you produce I buy so that we empower one another through the market linkage,” President Museveni said.
Apostle Pauline Forkwa from the United States assured the President that they are ready to work with Uganda to transform it socially and economically.
“We have people in 72 nations so we are a big force. Part of our plans is to have an African- American Embassy in Uganda and we will work with you, bring all experts here to interpret your dream,” she said.
On his turn, Dr. Kwame Mukong, an African- American whose country of origin is Cameroon appealed to President Museveni to work with the government of Cameroon to mediate between the warring factions in their country.
“We need help and the help we need is bringing the factions together; that of English and French speaking people,”
Dr, Kwame also noted that restrictions to consumption of Ugandan made goods on the grounds of LGBTQ which has nothing to do with the goods that are being produced was unfair and he promised as a good Christian to lobby on this matter.
“I believe that the group we have here can work with Christian outlets to let them know the restrictions about the funding to Uganda were unfair and I believe they will eventually give market to the Ugandan made goods,” he asserted.
The meeting was also attended by the newly consecrated General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda, Bishop Moses Odongo, Bishop Joshua Lwere, Mrs. Betty Odongo, Bishop Tom Okello, Rev. Dr Morakinyo Babafemi, Mr. OsarumenOjiefo Okojie, among others.