VP Ssekandi sees off Korean ambassador

PIC: Park Jong-Dae (left) bidding farewell to Ssekandi at the Vice President's office in Kampala on Thursday

DIPLOMACY

The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Park Jong-Dae on Thursday called on the Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, to bid him farewell after his tour of duty in Uganda as South Korea's Head of Mission in Kampala.

During the meeting at the Vice President's Office in Kampala, Ssekandi appreciated Ambassador Park's passion for Uganda's development and strengthening of ties between the two countries, which he said have facilitated high-level interactions between the two countries.

Ssekandi cited President Yoweri Museveni's first ever official visit to South Korea, which was reciprocated by Korea President's visit to Uganda last year during several bilateral commitments, where made between the two countries.

He said Park was leaving at the time Uganda needed him most, as it endeavors to learn from Korea's history how it transformed from one of Asia's poorest to the top 15 world industrialised economies in just 30 years. Ssekandi added that he was optimistic Park's successor will continue with the same commitment and spirit of promoting more people to people relations between the two countries.

The Vice President also observed that Uganda will continue supporting regional and global efforts aimed at pacifying the Korean Peninsula and looks forward to a day when the two Koreas will return to talks aimed at unifying the North and South into a single country.

He also expressed Uganda's appreciation to the people and Government of South Korea for the support extended to Uganda, including the Kampiringisa Farmers' and Leadership Training Centre, Ntinda Vocational Centre, Soroti fruit factory currently under construction, the training of Ugandans in various fields, among others and wished Ambassador Park a successful career in his next station.

Park said he was indebted to the Government and people of Uganda for the support and care he received during his sevn-year time of duty in Uganda, which he said was one of the longest periods in the history of diplomatic service of his country and asked that the same support be extended to his successor.

Park, who will be leaving over the weekend for Pretoria (South Africa), where he will be serving his last term as his country's diplomat, said he has enjoyed a good time in Uganda and promised to seldom return to Uganda and more so when his term ends.

Park, who grew up in Uganda as son of a diplomat and educated at Aga Khan High School in the 70s before returning to Seoul following the Embassy closure in Kampala, will be replaced by Kim You-churl, formerly Korea's Deputy Head of Mission in Nicosia-Cyprus.

the South Korea Embassy in Kampala was re-established as a fully-fledged embassy in 2012 after 17 years of closure and downgrade of diplomatic relationship with Uganda to the level of a consulate.

The closure in 1994 followed the restructuring in foreign services by the Asian nation.