Japanese embassy hails government for peacekeeping

The Japanese embassy has hailed the Government for keeping peace which has addressed issues that touch every node of the sustainable development goals (SGDs)

The Japanese ambassador to Uganda, Fukuzawe Hidemoto, said the government has kept peace and transformation throughout the years Japan has strongly related with her.

Fukuzawe added that it was no wonder the relationship between the two countries had grown stronger by each day through partnering in economic infrastructure, agricultural development, development support to Northern Uganda among others.

He lauded the ruling government led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for launching the 2040 vision, which articulates clear strategies and policy directions to transform the country into a competitive upper-middle-income country with per capita income from $560 to $9,500 over the next 30 years.

Makerere students attending the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Uganda Chair and Japan week held at the auditorium building with an aim of learning from Japan’s unique developing future leaders in Uganda on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. 

Speaking during the Japan week that kick-started on Tuesday at Makerere, the ambassador said because of this peace, refugees have made Uganda their home and it’s no doubt she has welcomed them with open hands under the open-door policy.

According to UNHCR reports, as of November 30, 2021, Uganda hosts over 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers mainly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi and is the country hosting the most refugees in sub-Saharan Africa.

Over 80% of refugees are hosted in 13 districts in the North and South-Western regions and in the capital Kampala.

They live in villages known as settlements, where they co-exist with communities that host them. This approach, combined with progressive refugee laws and freedoms, provide refugees in Uganda with significant prospects for dignity and self-reliance.

Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor Makerere University during the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Uganda Chair and Japan week held at Makerere, auditorium building with an aim of learning from Japan’s unique developing future leaders in Uganda on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. 

“Not so many countries can do that, hosting such a huge number of refugees is not for everyone, in fact Japan should learn from Uganda, the love here is overwhelming, and I am confident the country has a bright future,” Fukuzawa added. 

Japan embassy celebrates MAK

The Japan Embassy together with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the Japan week at Makerere University in commemoration of its 100 years of existence.

The topics to be discussed during the week will include Japanese history, economy, arts, students’ life in Japan to mention but a few.

“I convey my congratulations to Makerere University upon its 100 Years of Excellence in Building a Transformed Society and we have chosen this place specifically to celebrate the honorable milestone,” Fakuzawe said.

He said Japan is proud to share a rich history of collaboration with MAK through infrastructure support, partnerships between Japan and Uganda Universities, annual sponsorship by the government of Japan of Ugandan students to study in Japanese Universities, the majority of who are graduates from Makerere.

“We are very lucky to host the Japan week and even more to be joined as we celebrate the 100 years, it is very important for us because Japan is one of the countries which we should learn, they don’t have enough natural resources but due to innovation, they have managed to become one of the most powerful economic countries in the world, The Vice-Chancellor, Makerere University, Barnabas Nawangwe noted.

Nawangwe added that this week is key to the institution because the culture, history, technology from Japan might be a game-changer in the transformation of Uganda in getting to the middle-income status and modern as well.