Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has berated the West for involving African countries in the confrontation with Russia, saying the move is groundless, local media reported.
"We don't want this nonsense of rivalry. What are you rivaling for? We have got enough problems to solve as a human race. It should be through co-operation and respecting the internal issues of countries, Museveni said. "How can you have the whole world thinking the same way? How can you say we fight Russia without any reason?"
To stress the issue of mentality, Museveni also mentioned the differences in cultural heritage - giving the example of marriages between first cousins, which he argued is acceptable for some nations but taboo in Uganda.
As for military support, the relationship between Africa and Russia originated back to the time of Egypt's President Abdel Nasser, who in 1955 first bought equipment from the Soviet Union.
"The Soviet Union for the last hundred years has been with Africa, Asia and Latin America," Uganda's leader recalled.
In March, Museveni praised defense cooperation between Uganda and Moscow and highlighted the variety of sectors in which Kampala and Moscow could enhance ties.