Ugandans showcase culture at independence gala in Beijing

Oct 12, 2016

Wagidoso praised China for being one of Uganda’s key development partners and paid tribute to the Asian country’s support for Uganda’s independence struggles.

Sunday, October 9 might have come across as just another ordinary day in China, with majority of nationals returning from home after a week-long national holiday.

But not for Ugandans who turned up in large numbers for a gala to commemorate Uganda’s 54th independence anniversary at Kempinski Hotel in Beijing.

Ugandan students and business personalities joined a host of diplomats from across Africa and China for the evening.

Uganda’s ambassador to China, Charles Wagidoso said the gala was a moment to reflect on Uganda’s challenges and achievements over the last thirty years.

“Uganda has had political stability and peace for more than two decades and is steadily on the path of economic development realized through hard work, patriotism and unity,” he stated.

 

Wagidoso praised China for being one of Uganda’s key development partners and paid tribute to the Asian country’s support for Uganda’s independence struggles.

“China supported Africa and Uganda during the independence struggles, and we have remained steadfast friends in our journey for economic transformation,” the envoy said.

China’s vice minister for foreign affairs, Zhang Ming was one of the country’s top diplomats at the colourful evening gala filled with performances by a Chinese Orchestra and a Ugandan troupe.

China was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations Uganda after independence in 1962, setting up its embassy in Kampala just 10 days after the declaration.

Uganda’s independence anniversary comes barely a week after China commemorated the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.

 

With growing diplomatic ties between the two countries, economic and cultural cooperation has improved rapidly over in recent years.

Although Ugandan cuisine did not feature at the dinner, a short film about Uganda was screened and some guests turned up in traditional attire and danced away to popular Ugandan tunes.

 

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