'Instead of worshipping bureaucracy, PM Modi promotes efficiency, innovations'

President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing "many changes" in India by promoting efficiency and innovation instead of bureaucracy.

"You are most welcome to Uganda for your second visit. The only difference is that when you first came in 2007, you were the Chief Minister of one of the Indian states. But now you have become the Prime Minister of the whole country. And it seems you got blessings for that promotion from your visit to Uganda," Museveni said following the delegation-level talks between the two nation.

"You have brought many changes in India which has made the country to move very fast by bringing a business oriented approach to the management of public affairs in India. Instead of worshipping bureaucracy, he promotes efficiency and innovations, and that's what has helped India to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Therefore, we are very happy to receive you here as an old friend," he added.

The President said that the two leaders discussed about "trade, investment and tourism" in their meeting.

"These are the three things that bring people together. We will work for mutual prosperity. Uganda now is importing less globally not just from India because we are a bit more self sufficient. In 2015, our imports from India were 1.2 billion dollars, but today the number is 736 million dollars. The exports are going up slowly from 24 million dollars in 2015 to 44 million dollars now. In order to improve trade, we need to get Indian tourists in Uganda," Museveni said.

"For the same, I have asked the Prime Minister to allow our airlines to land directly in Mumbai, from where our Indian tribes come. Then the Prime Minister said that there are some Indian groups that want invest in healthcare in Uganda," he added.

Later on, President Museveni said the two leaders have agreed upon opening a tourism centre in the name of Mahatma Gandhi in Jinja, Uganda.

"Mahatma Gandhi was a nationalist, a freedom fighter from India, but he started his fight for freedom in South Africa. He was a lawyer in the country. When he faced racism there, he opposed it. Later he went back to India and started the freedom movement there," the President said.

"The Prime Minister has offered a convention centre in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. The original idea was that the convention centre could be in Kampala, but with more discussion, we have decided to convert it into a tourism centre near the source of the Nile in Jinja where a part of Mahatma Gandhi's mortal remains were immersed," Museveni added.

Besides the delegation level talks, Prime Minister Modi will also be addressing a community event later today. He is on a three-nation tour to the African countries including Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa.