President Bush met at the White House Monday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The talks focused on ways to boost trade between Africa and the United States.
President Museveni says during the meeting he stressed that trade is the key to Africa's economic future. "We talked a lot about trade access by Ugandan products, Africa products to the big American market," he says. "We think this is the best way to stimulate growth in Africa."
The Ugandan leader spoke to reporters as he left the White House. He said he also discussed the war on terrorism with President Bush and offered his country's strong support. "We have been fighting terrorism ourselves, sponsored in our part of the world by the government of Sudan, so we know much about it," he says. "And we are happy the Americans are taking a very strong stand against terrorism because it [terrorism] is very unprincipled, it is criminal."
Mr. Museveni said during the meeting he briefed President Bush on efforts to end the 4-year-old civil war in Congo. He said the parties are near an agreement. "They are just remaining with a few issues, like how to share the election position. But I am sure they will finalize those ones also."
AIDs in Africa was another item on the meeting agenda. President Museveni said Mr. Bush congratulated him on his government's successful efforts to combat the spread of the disease in Uganda.