By 
By Godfrey Olukya 18-10-2015
President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in the Algerian Capital Algiers for a four day State visit at the invitation of his counterpart President Abudelaziz Bouteflika that will see Uganda open its first ever mission in the north African country and seek to strengthen relations in education, trade and cooperation in the oil and gas sector to boost Uganda’s exports.
A statement issued by Museveni’s deputy press secretary,Lindah Nabusayi said that Museveni arrived last afternoon at the Houari Boumediene International Airport and was treated to a red carpet reception inspected the guard of honor mounted by the Algerian, land, air and navy force and received a 21-gun salute.
”At the airport the President was received by the Speaker of the Peoples National Assembly of Algeria, Rt. Hon. Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa. Others at the airport to receive the President were the Algerian Minister of Energy Mr. Khebri Mohamed, Minister of State for African Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Lamamra Ramtane and Minister of Agriculture Mr. Ferroukhi Sid Ahmed.” she said.
On arrival, President Museveni visited the National Martyrs’ Memorial at El-Hamma hill in honour of the sacrifices of the Algerian people and the Resistance against colonial occupation.
He laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial, led by ceremonial guard while the Military band played solemn music. The President later toured the Mujahid Museum and was taken through the political history of Algeria through the liberation struggle up to the post colonial times.
He signed the visitors’ book describing the Algerian Peoples struggle as heroic and a contribution to the African Liberation movement in Southern Africa.
During his visit, the President will hold a bilateral meeting between with HE Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the Republic of Algeria.
Uganda is one of the biggest beneficiaries of education scholarships from Algeria. The Republic of Algeria offers 50 scholarships to Uganda annually with over 200 Uganda students currently undertaking various under-graduate and postgraduate courses in universities around Algeria. Fields of study include Dental Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Science and Technology, Nature and life Sciences, Science of Matter, Economic Sciences and Commercial Management, French Literature, English Literature and Italian Literature.
Algeria has also extended training opportunities to the Uganda Police Force in areas of Security and Investigations.
END