John Mulimba has highlighted the transformative potential of group membership for the East African nation’s growth
Uganda officially became a BRICS partner state on January 1, 2025, a development expected to unlock investment opportunities and deepen ties with some of the world’s leading emerging economies, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation John Mulimba said during an interview with Xinhua News Agency on Friday.
Emphasizing the transformative potential of Uganda’s partnership with BRICS, Mulimba stated that it has joined a platform of countries that are “highly industrialized, some of which have evolved from similar circumstances to where we are now.”
He highlighted the importance of BRICS as a platform for technological exchange and innovation, particularly in the areas of information and communication technology. According to Mulimba, these advancements could serve as valuable tools for “societal transformation” in Uganda.
The minister also noted that BRICS membership presents Uganda with alternative financing opportunities, reducing reliance on Western credit institutions, which often impose stringent conditions.
Earlier in November, during the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Ugandan Foreign Minister Odongo Jeje Abubakher met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The discussion was focused on Uganda’s collaboration with BRICS, including the potential for Uganda to receive partner country status within the group.
“We supported Uganda’s candidacy during the BRICS Summit in October, when the issue of extending invitations to our friends was discussed,” Lavrov said at a meeting with his Ugandan counterpart.
BRICS, initially formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, invited South Africa to join in 2011. In 2024, the group further expanded its membership to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Other African nations have also expressed interest in joining BRICS. Earlier last year, Nigeria formally sought South Africa’s support for its bid to join the bloc. Zimbabwe and Algeria are similarly pursuing membership.
In addition to Uganda, eight other countries officially became BRICS partners on January 1, 2025: Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan.
