AMBASSADOR’S SPEECH ON THE 54 TH ANNIVERSARY OF
UGANDAN INDEPENDENCE, 9TH OCTOBER 2016
The Honorable Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs:
Honorable Shinsuke TAKEI
Honorable Members of the Diet
Excellencies colleague Ambassadors
Members of Uganda Diaspora Japan
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for honoring us with your esteemed presence today despite this day
falling in the middle of a public holiday. It is a sign of your support and love forUganda for which we are very grateful.
I thank the Almighty God for his guidance and leadership to us all up to today.
On this occasion of Uganda’s 54th Independence Day Celebrations, I convey warm
greetings from His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republicof Uganda and the entire Ugandan public to their Imperial Majesties the Emperorand Empress, the entire Imperial Family, the Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe andhis government, the honorable members of the Diet as well as the people of Japanfor their continued support and friendship to the people and government ofUganda.
It was on this day, 54 years ago, in Kampala, that the Union Jack was peacefully
lowered and the Ugandan flag raised. Uganda was one of the few African nations
that had a peaceful change of government from its colonial masters. Despite somesetbacks during its formative years, Uganda is now one of the most peacefulcountries in Africa. Its last major instability was 30 years ago.
Today, we also would like to introduce to you Uganda Diaspora Japan, anorganization that brings together Ugandans in Japan for purposes of promoting its
culture, education and its development efforts. UDJ is working in close1

collaboration with the Embassy of Uganda in Japan. We would like our friends
and well wishers to consider working with the leadership of this group to promote
Uganda in Japan.
TourismThis nation is called the Pearl of Africa, a reference by Sir Winston Churchill, in
his book, “My African Journey”. It is indeed the polished pearl of Africa. It is reemerging as a top tourist destination with more than 1.2 million tourists annually.
She boasts of numerous World Heritage sites such as; the Kasubi Royal tombs, theancient Nyero Rock paintings, the snow-capped Mt. Rwenzori at the equator andthe Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It has been ranked twice in a row as the top tourdestination by known travel guide books. To date, the number of Tourists fromJapan to Uganda has increased by about 25% from July 2014 to July 2016 but westill encourage more Japanese to consider Uganda in their touristic itinerary.
Uganda has been ranked second in the world in hospitality. The fifty four different
tribes in Uganda offer opportunities for diverse cultural tourism.
Trade and Investment
Last year, Uganda was ranked the most enterprising nation, with 28% of the adults
in the nation owning or co-owning a business. It is therefore not a surprise that thenumber of Japanese SMEs in Uganda has increased from 19 to 35 in the last twoyears alone. We wish to encourage large corporations to look at Uganda as apotential investment destination. We thank Toshiba, Marubeni and Toyota Tsusho
for realizing this potential and investing in Uganda already. We are happy also tonote that Komatsu, Sumitomo Corporation and Zenitaka are already working withUganda. .
Uganda has made significant progress socially, economically and politically. We
have just had a successful Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government
elections. In this new tenure, the government of Uganda has recommitted itself tofighting corruption and improving the business environment in order to attract
foreign direct investments. Currently, the investment climate is conducive and theGovernment of Uganda continues to assure investors of security and good returns
on their investments. The country is the business hub in the East African region.

2Infrastructure
To lift the country to a middle income economy, our priorities continue to beinfrastructure development, trade and investment, tourism and human resource
development. The Government of Japan has continued to support these priorities.
In the just concluded TICAD VI and during the bilateral summit between Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda,
which was very cordial, and mutually beneficial, Japan recommitted funds tocontinue to support Uganda’s infrastructure development and humanitarian efforts.
The partnership between Government of Uganda and Government of Japan isbearing fruits. As a land locked country, we appreciate Japan’s assistance indeveloping One-Stop Border Post System as well as in the many infrastructuredevelopment projects in the country.
Education
Human Resource Development is crucial to our National Development. Japan has
continued to support Uganda in this area through MEXT, ABE Initiative, JICA,
respective universities and private foundations. The number of students fromUganda to Japan has increased and we look forward to more especially in the fieldof Science and Technology. Research collaborations with universities and sectoral
training programs by JICA have continued to grow and for this we commend thePeople and the Government of Japan.
Uganda is a center of educational excellence in the East African region. Students
come from all over the Great Lakes Region to study in the country. Japanese
education system and expertise especially in science and technology andvocational/ technical training has been implemented through Nakawa Vocational
Institute. We welcome the interest by the Japan Government to raise this instituteinto one of the ten Centers of Excellence in Africa. We also invite private
investors to take advantage of the massive investment opportunities that exist inthe Education sector in Uganda.
We would not have come this far without our partners, both government andprivate such as the Ssasakawa Foundation, the Ashinaga Foundation, Japan
Millenium Promise, Japan-Uganda Socio-Economic Development Association3

(JUSEDA) and the many Japanese NPOs and overseas volunteers who haveselflessly committed to our social and economic wellbeing.
And so, as this young nation emerges as a middle income economy by 2020, werecommit ourselves as Uganda to continue to promote cordial bilateral relations
between Uganda and Japan and other countries of accreditation as well as good
multilateral relations with other development partners. We believe that therelationship between us and our partners will continue to grow from strength tostrength.
Fellow Ugandans, as we launch Uganda Diaspora Japan today, I urge you to
support it as well as continue to be ambassadors of Uganda wherever you are bypromoting our good culture, our warmth and friendship. Please also continue tonetwork with other organizations in order to support not only your families but also
our communities back home.
Thank you all for your kind attention.
“For God and my Country”.

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