Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has expressed readiness to deepen political and economic cooperation with Venezuela’s ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela following a meeting between leaders of the two parties in Kampala.
Speaking while hosting a Venezuelan delegation at the NRM headquarters, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong said the party remains committed to strengthening ties with Venezuela and supporting the South American nation amid its current political and economic challenges.
“We are deeply grateful that you accepted our invitation and traveled all the way from Venezuela to Uganda,” Todwong said. “We remain fully committed to our partnership.”
Todwong said the NRM sympathized with the situation in Venezuela and urged the Venezuelan people to remain resilient.
“The journey toward full liberation is long, and the resolve of the people cannot be broken down by a single incident,” he said. “You must remain firm and strong with your citizens so that you continue to give them hope and faith.”
He said the NRM would continue standing with its allies against what he described as injustices and external pressures.
Todwong also called for expanded exchanges between Uganda and Venezuela, including investment, political cooperation and people-to-people relations.
“We want to have more people visit Venezuela, and we want more Venezuelans coming to Uganda,” he said, adding that Uganda offers opportunities for investment and broader cooperation.
The NRM secretary general outlined the party’s core principles, including patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy.
He said the NRM promotes patriotism among citizens and believes African countries share common challenges that require solidarity and cooperation.
According to Todwong, the party has extended this outlook beyond Africa to partners such as Venezuela because of shared political and ideological values.
Todwong also said revolutionary parties must adapt to changing social realities and the expectations of younger generations.
“The majority of young people today were born during the NRM government,” he said. “The party can no longer only talk about the past. Young people want to hear what we are going to do for their future.”
He added that the NRM continues to adjust its strategies in response to social and economic transformation in Uganda.
On democracy, Todwong defended what he described as an African model of democratic practice, saying transparency and openness should guide political competition.
Leading the Venezuelan delegation, Rander Pena, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and a member of Venezuela’s ruling United Socialist Party, praised the NRM for its historical role in Uganda and Africa’s political development.
Pena said the meeting presented an opportunity to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two parties in political, economic and social fields.
“We want to strengthen cooperation and share experiences in different aspects of the lives of our people,” Pena said.
He described the Socialist Party of Venezuela as a “friend party” of the NRM and called for increased exchanges between leaders and members of both countries.
“Venezuelans should come here to learn from your experience, and members of your party should also come to Venezuela and share experiences with us,” he said.
Pena also thanked the NRM leadership for what he described as warm hospitality during the delegation’s visit to Uganda.
