Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni receives North Korea's ceremonial
head of state Kim Yong-nam on March 27, 2008. Yong-nam is to visit
Uganda on Wednesday with the aim of sealing deals to strengthen security
ties Kampala's presidency said. PHOTO | FILE | REUTERS
By AFP
In Summary
- Official says North Korea had already started training Ugandan police in martial arts, and was "training our marine units" and was also "engaged in the health sector".
North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong
Nam, was to visit Uganda on Wednesday with the aim of sealing deals to
strengthen security ties, the presidency in Kampala said.
"We are receiving a high-level delegation from
North Korea," Tamale Mirundi, spokesman for Ugandan President Yoweri
Museveni said. "The president and Kim Yong Nam will be holding talks to
strengthen further bilateral relations."
He added that North Korea had already started
training Ugandan police in martial arts, and was "training our marine
units" and was also "engaged in the health sector".
Uganda has previously dismissed criticism of
security deals and military training with North Korea. It denies any
purchase of arms and says it has bought only "non-lethal equipment" from
the Asian state to disperse protestors.
In April, Ugandan officials said the United
Nations would be free to investigate any of its dealings with Pyongyang.
Kim last visited Uganda in 2008, as part of an Africa tour including
Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia. North Korean officers
have also trained Ugandan tank crews and special forces, Museveni said
earlier this year.
Ugandan troops are fighting in Somalia against
Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab insurgents, as part of a UN-backed African
Union force.
They are also fighting in neighbouring South
Sudan, backing government forces against rebel troops, as well leading
AU efforts to hunt down Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in the
Central African Republic.
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