Kampala — Uganda has received a donation of reproductive health equipment from the Chinese government.

The diagnostic, imaging and laboratory equipment, worth about $300,000 (about sh600m), was handed over to the health minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, by the Chinese embassy Charge de Affaires, Wang Zeshan.

Zeshan stated that unlike offers from the West, which come with conditionalities, the equipment was a symbol of warm relations between the two countries.

"There is no condition on democracy or human rights attached to this donation," Zeshan said.

He pointed out that both Uganda and China had a history of suffering induced by the West.

Mallinga said the items, which include ultra sound, urine analysis equipment, an ECG machine, mammograms, theatre lamps and tables, would be installed in Mulago and Jinja hospitals.

Other hospitals, Mallinga noted, would be equipped by the Government starting next year. He lauded China for the assistance, saying it was one of the many donations from the country.