Uganda marks Africa Day, reaffirms commitment to refugee effort

Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting refugees, by maintaining an open and progressive policy despite the challenges of caring for over 1.8 million people fleeing conflicts in the region.

Foreign Affairs ministry director of protocol services ambassador Charles Sentongo says Uganda has always been a key player on the African continent and will continue doing so. 

“People who have fled from their countries are our brothers and sisters who come here to join their fellow Africans. We need to foster that spirit,” he says.

These remarks were made during the Africa Day celebration at the Sheraton Kampala on Sunday, May 25, 2025. 

Uganda hosts Africa's largest refugee population, with 62% originating from South Sudan. The country's open and progressive refugee policy grants refugees rights to land, movement and work, serving as an inspiring model for other nations around the world.

However, Uganda faces several challenges, including decreasing financial support for its refugee programmes from the international community. Recently, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced it had to cut food rations for one million refugees in Uganda due to funding shortages.

Sentongo said Uganda will continue working with the rest of the continent in efforts aimed at fostering peace and security in the region. 

"On behalf of the government of Uganda, I stand here to restate our unwavering support to all African causes, economic or political. We shall continue being key players in efforts aimed at finding peace and security in the region," he said. 

Sentongo expressed deep appreciation for the founding fathers of the African Union, highlighting the contributions of leaders such as the late Mwalimu Nyerere, former Egyptian President General Abdul Gamal Nasser, and former Prime Minister and President of Uganda Milton Obote.

Delegates and ambassadors during the cutting of the cake. This was during the African Day celebrations at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Sunday. (Courtesy Photo)

He said their main objective was the liberation of the African continent, followed by its development. 

In a speech delivered by the Rwandan ambassador to Uganda, Colonel Joseph Rutabana, AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf paid tribute to the continent’s wealth. 

“There is no doubt that Africa's potential—its mineral resources, arable land, and industrial capacity—is significant,” he stated, urging the protection of these resources for present and future generations.

He emphasised that it is the primary duty of "our member countries to develop a viable supply chain on the continent through value-added transformation processes".

Youssouf lamented the detrimental effects of international geopolitics, often occurring at Africa's expense, noting that influential global powers frequently overlook the continent's aspirations.

“It is up to us Africans to assert our values, reaffirm our convictions and earn the respect of other nations through our ability to make an impact on the global stage,” he said, emphasising the need for Pan-Africanism.

He stated that this vision was established by "our forefathers, based not only on the legitimate aspirations of our peoples but also on strategic goals that reflect critical thinking for the future of the continent and its inhabitants". 

Africa Day is an important event commemorated annually on May 25. It marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU), in 1963. This day celebrates the progress made toward liberating African countries from colonial rule and highlights ongoing efforts to promote unity and development across the continent.

This year's event, organized by ambassadors from African countries in Uganda, took place under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.”

As well as delegates from embassies from African countries, the event was also attended by others from outside Africa, including the European Union head of delegation Jan Sadek and the German ambassador to Uganda Mathias Schauer. 

The Africa Day 2025 commemoration, according to the African Union, seeks to:

• Promote the AU 2025 Theme of the Year, positioning reparations and historical redress within AU frameworks for peacebuilding, development, and global advocacy.

• Facilitate high-level dialogue on innovative and implementable policy pathways for achieving reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.

• Celebrate Africa’s diverse cultural heritage as both a repository of memory and a dynamic driver of healing, innovation, and sustainable development.

• Foster intergenerational and diaspora dialogues that bridge past struggles with future aspirations, allowing youth, artists, civil society, and thought leaders to co-create inclusive narratives of justice, identity, and transformation.

• Reaffirm Member States’ commitment to Pan-African solidarity, resilience, and the cultural and intellectual revival of the continent.