UGANDA DEEPENS CITY-TO-CITY COOPERATION WITH CHINA AS MBALE AND HANGZHOU FORMALISE PARTNERSHIP IN TRADE, INVESTMENT, TOURISM AND SMART-CITY DEVELOPMENT

Uganda marked a significant milestone in strengthening economic, technological and cultural cooperation with China following the signing of a Friendly Exchange Cooperation Agreement between Mbale City and Hangzhou, one of China’s leading centres of innovation and digital transformation.

The signing took place during the 10th Hangzhou International Sister City Mayors Conference, held under the theme “AI Drives Innovation, Sister Cities Deepen Cooperation.” Uganda was represented by H.E. Ambassador Oliver Wonekha and Hon. Joyce Kithulu Matuuka, Mayor of Mbale City, accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Mwesige Ssempa, Counsellor at the Embassy of Uganda in Beijing. The Conference was graced by Mr. Liu Fei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, while Mr. Du Xuliang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee and Mayor of Hangzhou, delivered the keynote presentation.

Hangzhou occupies a special place in China as a historic cultural capital and global hub for technological innovation, e-commerce and digital transformation. Renowned for West Lake, its rich cultural heritage and modern infrastructure, the city is home to Alibaba Group and a thriving artificial intelligence and smart-city ecosystem. Its development offers valuable lessons for Mbale in digital governance, industrialisation, sustainable urban development and tourism.

In their addresses, Ambassador Wonekha and Mayor Matuuka reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to translating the partnership into tangible outcomes in trade, investment, tourism, technology transfer and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Wonekha highlighted opportunities to leverage Hangzhou’s technological expertise and Alibaba’s e-commerce ecosystem to expand market access for Uganda’s Mount Elgon Arabica coffee, promote agro-processing and showcase Uganda’s tourism attractions to Chinese consumers and investors.

Mayor Matuuka presented Mbale as the commercial gateway to Eastern Uganda and the Mount Elgon region, identifying priority areas for cooperation, including coffee value addition, industrial investment, smart-city development, digital governance, AI-powered tourism, modern waste management, recycling and green urban development. She also showcased Mount Elgon, Sipi Falls and the Imbalu cultural heritage as distinctive tourism attractions.

Both leaders emphasised that the partnership should deliver measurable results through increased investment, expanded markets, job creation, technology transfer, stronger people-to-people exchanges and improved livelihoods.

The agreement advances Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy agenda, strengthens Uganda–China relations and opens opportunities for wider South–South cooperation, including engagement with BRICS economies. Ambassador Wonekha further invited Chinese investors and business leaders to participate in the Uganda Investment, Trade and Tourism Familiarisation Mission scheduled for May 2027.

The Mbale–Hangzhou partnership opens a new chapter in connecting Hangzhou’s technological excellence and global market reach with Mbale’s agricultural, tourism and investment potential, demonstrating how city-to-city cooperation can foster innovation, shared prosperity and lasting friendship between Uganda and China.

Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
Beijing, People’s Republic of China