Alfred Okwonga the Gulu City Mayor yesterday received a warm reception in Gulu city returning from an international conference held in Russia.
Okwonga was on a flight to Russia for a conference dubbed Brick plus which brought together first world countries such as Russia, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa to discuss bilateral partnership.
This year's Brick conference marks the 5th conference where African countries such as Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa were invited for the first time.
Mayor was received by his secretaries led by Christine Olok the deputy Mayor together with Luboyo Doreen Aber, the secretaries for health education and social service Kenneth Oketayot secretary work and technical service.
In a memo read to the Mayor by Olok, Christine Mayor informed the Mayor on the number of activities which took place in Gulu city in his absence.
In an interview, Mayor reveals that was selected by his counterpart Mayor from Uganda to represent Uganda because all of them were unable to attend the conference.
Mayor said he urged first world countries to practice international partnership and bilateral trade with poor African countries.
He reveals that Russia is ready to do businesses such as pharmaceuticals, coffee processing factories, buying organic produce such as honey and Simsim from Gulu city.
In the meeting, they propose signing a memorandum of understanding with African university and Russia University so that African students and lecturers from Africa are given a chance to study in Russia and as well as Russia to send its students to Africa too.
He noted that he came up with a draft memorandum of understanding for affiliation of universities in Africa to take their student to study in Russia while Russia would also bring their student and lecture to study in Africa.
He has delivered a copy of the draft MOU he brought from Russia to the VC chancellor of Gulu university and university of sacred heart and they have started working on it.
Gulu city is expecting a delegation from Russia in March 2024 to further their discussion on the bilateral agreement.
