China sees chance to woo Uganda as West mulls sanctions for bloody election

Top diplomat Yang Jiechi vows China will fund infrastructure projects and donate Covid-19 vaccines

United States and European Union have threatened to impose sanctions on Ugandan officials over disputed election and human rights violations

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Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni advocated closer ties between their nations when they met on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00pm, 22 Feb 2021Updated: 8:00pm, 22 Feb 2021

China is trying to solidify its relations with Uganda, as the West threatens sanctions over the African country’s bloody presidential election in January.

Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, on Sunday met President Yoweri Museveni and congratulated him on his win in last month’s polls, which were disputed and preceded by a crackdown on opposition followers.

“Your re-election last month speaks volumes of the trust and support from the people of Uganda to your continued presidency,” Yang said while meeting Museveni in the city of Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria. He said China hoped Uganda would “enjoy stability, development and progress”.

Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, was declared the winner of the January 14 election with 59 per cent of the vote against opposition leader Bobi Wine’s 35 per cent, but observers and opposition figures said electoral fraud aided Museveni’s victory.

Wine was also placed under house arrest – illegally, a Ugandan court ruled – before and after the election, and dozens were shot dead by Ugandan police following protests over harassment of opposition figures.

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