NEW DELHI, India — Vice President Jessica Alupo and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Uganda and India in healthcare, agriculture, digital technologies and capacity building.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where Alupo is representing President Yoweri Museveni.

Modi described the meeting as an opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two countries, recalling his memorable visit to Uganda in 2018.

“Delighted to meet Vice President Jessica Alupo of Uganda on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit,” Modi said.

He also recalled the Kampala Principles, which he said continue to guide India's engagement with Africa.

The discussions focused on practical areas of cooperation, including healthcare, agriculture, digital technologies and capacity building — sectors with significant implications for Uganda's development and economic transformation.

Modi said India and Uganda would continue working closely to advance bilateral ties while contributing to a stronger voice for the Global South.

Deepening Uganda-India Partnership

The meeting comes as Uganda continues to expand its engagement with emerging economies and South-South cooperation platforms.

Uganda and India have maintained longstanding diplomatic relations, with cooperation spanning trade, education, health, defence, technology and development assistance.

For Kampala, stronger cooperation with New Delhi offers opportunities to tap into India's experience in digital innovation, pharmaceutical production, healthcare delivery and agricultural development.

The engagement also comes at a significant moment for Uganda's international diplomacy following its accession as a BRICS Partner State in January 2025.

Alupo's participation at the BRICS Summit places Uganda within a broader diplomatic conversation involving major emerging economies and countries of the Global South.

The New Delhi discussions therefore provide an additional avenue for Kampala to pursue economic partnerships while strengthening its relations with India, one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.

The emphasis on capacity building, technology and value-adding sectors could also support Uganda's wider efforts to move from reliance on raw commodity exports towards greater domestic production and industrialisation.

Modi's reference to the Kampala Principles further underscores India's stated approach of building partnerships with African countries around mutual development priorities and a greater role for the Global South in international affairs.