Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister,
All Ministers present,
Deputy CDF, all General officers present,
All Secretaries present, High Commissioners,
Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vyas,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, is a proud day for Uganda, a proud day for India, and a proud day for Uganda-India relations.
We have assembled here to mark a significant milestone in our bilateral cooperation. India’s National Forensic Sciences University is opening its campus in Uganda, partnering with the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces. This is the first foreign campus of the National Forensic Sciences University. Even more important, it is actually the first Government university of India, opening a campus, anywhere abroad in the world. And let me add, as a member of Parliament, from the state of Gujarat, where this university is located, that it is a particular pleasure to see this university take the lead in doing so. And by doing so, they are realising a project, that is the personal vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So I know, that today’s event will give the Prime Minister of India, particular satisfaction.
The National Forensic Sciences University is an institution of national importance and is the world’s first university dedicated exclusively to forensic sciences. It was established in Ahmedabad in Gujarat under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister. This university conducts courses in forensic sciences, behavioural sciences, cyber security, digital forensics and allied sciences and also promotes research in these areas. For the past few years we have seen that courses in forensic sciences were in very high demand from students in Africa under various scholarships provided by the Government of India. One of the reasons why the stakeholders thought about a campus in Uganda, was infact the high acceptance of this university among students from Africa.
Discussions for this campus, have been ongoing on between the NFSU and the Ugandan authorities for some time, as you heard from some of the colleagues who spoke before me. But I must tell you, that the issue got a real push when the President of Uganda wrote to our Prime Minister in August of 2022 and the Prime Minister immediately directed the concerned ministries to support NFSU on this proposal. The campus we are going to launch today is therefore reflective of the vision and the relationship of the highest leadership of our both countries. That also makes it a responsibility of all stakeholders to give their best to this institution and make it truly a centre of excellence.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our two countries have robust defence relations. India has been regularly training and exchanging with UPDF, under its Economic and Technical Cooperation programme. About 50 UPDF officers travel to India every year to take defence courses ranging from short term months to up to one year. Further, a four member Indian Military Advisory and Training Team is stationed in the Defence Staff College of UPDF since 2010 and I acknowledge their presence here today. I am happy to note that our discussions have raised to open up the possibility of further expansion of defence cooperation, in the last few months and years. Cooperation between the National Defence College and the newly constituted NDC of Uganda is also under consideration.
So today, as I stand before you, I acknowledge the vision of His Excellency, the President of Uganda, for establishing a Forensic University campus in Uganda. I congratulate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. I also congratulate, the High Commission of India, and the Indian Military Advisory and Training Team stationed in Jinja, for making their respective contributions. And most of all, I would like to recognise and appreciate the NFSU team, who have worked so hard to realise this project. My special thanks to Vice- Chancellor Dr. Vyas.
So, let me conclude by wishing all the very best, to the NFSU campus in Uganda. I was told that if I come back in three years, the mango saplings that are planted will yield fruits, but I am sure that this campus will not need three years, to start delivering on its result. I wish all of you the best, from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you very much.
Jinja, Uganda
April 12, 2023