Uganda, May 8 -- Uganda on Thursday signed an agreement with France to design, build and equip a regional cancer treatment centre in Mbarara City, heralding a raft of planned multi-sector bilateral cooperation initiatives.

Diplomats familiar with the engagements say Paris is making available to Kampala concessional loans, private sector financing, export credits and technical expertise in aviation, digital ecosystem and piped water supply.

The announcement in Kampala yesterday of these flagship projects, which are either signed or under negotiation, precede the French-initiated Africa Forward Summit to be held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on May 11-12.

Themed, "Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth", the summit being ...