President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda received glowing tributes from global leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he marked his 80th birthday on September 15, 2024.
The heartfelt messages underscored Museveni’s enduring influence on both the domestic and international fronts, with special praise for his visionary leadership and Uganda’s growing role in global diplomacy.
In a letter delivered by Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated President Museveni on reaching this milestone and expressed admiration for his leadership. Xi noted Uganda’s achievements under Museveni’s stewardship, particularly emphasizing the country’s progress in national development over the past year.
“I have the pleasure to extend to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes,” wrote Xi. “As a rotating chair of both the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China, Uganda has made great contributions to promoting South-South Cooperation, which I highly appreciate.”
Xi also highlighted the strong relationship between China and Uganda, describing both nations as “good friends standing heart to heart” and key partners in solidarity for rejuvenation. He praised Uganda’s pivotal role in ensuring the success of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which focused on enhancing ties between Africa and China.
The Chinese leader further expressed his commitment to deepening China-Uganda relations. “I attach great importance to the development of China-Uganda relations and wish to join hands with you to strengthen exchanges on state governance, enhance the synergy of development strategies, co-safeguard international fairness and justice, and inject greater impetus to the common development and prosperity for the Global South.”
Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message followed a similar tribute from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who praised Museveni for his far-reaching vision and leadership. In his birthday message, Putin highlighted Museveni’s role in advancing Uganda’s development, stability, and foreign relations, crediting his long-term leadership with positioning Uganda as a significant player in global affairs.
Putin emphasized the strength of the Russia-Uganda relationship, expressing gratitude for Uganda’s cooperation with Russia on matters of mutual interest, including international justice and economic partnerships.
President Museveni’s leadership has elevated Uganda to a prominent position in international diplomacy, especially through its leadership of global movements such as the NAM and G77+ China. These platforms, which focus on empowering developing nations and advocating for South-South Cooperation, have seen Uganda play an influential role in advancing economic development, international justice, and multilateral cooperation.
The back-to-back messages from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin underscore the high regard in which Museveni is held by global powers, reflecting his strategic partnerships with China and Russia. These alliances have significantly bolstered Uganda’s standing on the international stage.
As Museveni celebrates his 80th birthday, his leadership legacy continues to resonate both in Uganda and abroad, positioning the country as a key player in shaping the future of global south cooperation and development.