Japanese are not wise traders, says Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

Japanese are not wise traders, says Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

President Museveni on Saturday during the 19th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit held in Uganda capital, Kampala said that “Japanese are not wise traders” as he issued a stark warning that he would no longer tolerate intent by foreign industrial companies to merely assemble instead of manufacturing in Uganda.

“All clans of Japanese vehicles are here. Since 1962, we have been buying a lot of vehicles from Japan… But Japanese are not wise traders,” he said.

“I told them… You Japanese, we are enriching you with our pockets… Why don’t you come and assemble these vehicles in Uganda? They were not interested. I see you want to take blood from me, but don’t want to give some blood to me,” he explained.

“Now, my Japanese people came saying we want to assemble vehicles here, but I said too late, sorry. I’m no longer interested in assembling but I only want manufacturing, if you don’t want bye-bye.” Museveni said.

Uganda and Japan historically have a friendly relationship with no major diplomatic row in more than 20 years.