Last year, the former US ambassador Scott DeLisi described the refinery deal as “not a done deal” and warned that it could be problematic for Uganda because Rostec’s chief executive Sergei Chemezov was subject to United States sanctions since 2014. Mr Chemezov is a former officer in the Russian spy agency KGB and close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Washington barred US companies from dealings with him as well as freezing his since April 2014 in response to Russia’s annexation and military occupation of eastern Ukraine.
Kwa upande wa nchi za kigeni zilizoshiriki maonesho hayo ya 40 tuzo zilienda kwa nchi za Rwanda iliyoshika nafasi ya mshindi wa tatu, Ujerumani ikishika nafasi ya mshindi wa pili huku nafasi ya mshindi wa kwanza ikiwa ni nchi ya Afrika Kusini. Aidha, washindi wa jumla walioshiriki katika maonesho ya 40 ya biashara ya kimataifa ya Sabasaba ni Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (UDSM) kilichoshika nafasi ya mshindi wa tatu, ikifuatia Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii pamoja Chuo cha Cha Ufundi Stadi (VETA) kilichoshika nafasi ya mshindi wa kwanza.