In a grand celebration held at the Eros Hotel, H.E. Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, High Commissioner of Uganda to India, welcomed guests to commemorate Uganda’s 63rd Independence Anniversary and 60 years of diplomatic relations with India. The event was attended by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, along with members of the diplomatic community, Honorary Consuls, and distinguished guests from across India and beyond.
Reflecting on the long-standing ties between the two nations, the High Commissioner noted, “Our bilateral relations go beyond goodwill. They are excellent and are underpinned by mutual respect, historical ties, shared values, and multilateral cooperation in pursuit of peace, security, environmental protection, and economic prosperity for our peoples.” She traced the roots of this friendship to the early 20th century when Indians were brought to East Africa to work on the construction of the railway connecting the Indian Ocean to landlocked Uganda, fostering cultural exchange and economic growth.
H.E. Kikafunda highlighted the role of India in Uganda’s development, citing educational scholarships, public sector capacity building, defense training, health equipment, pharmaceuticals, and lines of credit in agriculture and energy. She specifically mentioned the inauguration of the Indian National Forestry University in Uganda in 2023 by Hon. Dr. S. Jaishankar as “a testament to India’s commitment to Uganda’s development.”
The High Commissioner also recalled the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uganda in 2018, during which he became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Parliament of Uganda. She quoted the guiding principles laid out by the Prime Minister: “Africa will be at the top of our politics. Development partnerships will be guided by your priorities, on terms that will be comfortable to you. We will rely on African talent and skills, build local capacity, and create local opportunities.”
Uganda’s economic transformation was underscored, with H.E. Kikafunda noting sustained growth of 6% GDP over the past four decades and the country’s rise to medium human development status. She highlighted the contribution of the Indian community in Uganda, numbering over 40,000, who have invested over $1 billion and actively participate in cultural life, including annual Diwali celebrations at State House.
Emphasising Uganda’s investment-friendly policies, the High Commissioner said, “The government welcomed back the Asian community previously expelled, restoring their properties and creating a conducive environment for investment.” She further spoke of Uganda’s focus on industrialization, tourism, mineral-based industries, science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic growth and national development.
Uganda, an East African, is commonly called the “Pearl of Africa” because it evokes images of rare beauty and precious value. The popularisation of this beautiful nickname is often attributed to Sir Winston Churchill. In his 1908 travelogue, “My African Journey,” Churchill eloquently described Uganda as a land of “magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life—bird, insect, reptile, beast—for vast scale.”
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