KAMPALA – Close ties with North Korea will not affect relations with the United States and the West, Uganda says, as government-level work is dictated by “national interests”.

When probed about how western nations – some of which provide significant budget assistance to Uganda – might view Kampala’s relations with North Korea, outgoing Internal Affairs Minister Eng. Hillary Onek said that Uganda is an independent country that has the rights to engage with any country it chooses.

“Unless you are suggesting that we have become a subset of America or there is no independence at all. That whatever they tell