Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda leaves after four years

Jul 08, 2020

Bakker who arrived in Uganda in 2016 will be replaced by Dr Karin M. Boven, who has been the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Sudan.

KAMPALA - The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, Henk Jan Bakker, will be leaving the country after serving for four years.

Bakker who arrived in Uganda in 2016 will be replaced by Dr Karin M. Boven, who has been the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Sudan.

Over his four-year tenure, Bakker is credited for his support towards the agriculture sector through projects like Best Farmer's Competition, Harvest Money Expo, the Integrated Seed Sector Development Plus (ISSD Plus) and Resilient Efficient Agribusiness Chains (REACH Uganda) among others.

Henk Jan Bakker (left), the outgoing Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda addressing journalists as Barbara Kaija (right), Editor in Chief looks on during the farewell meeting. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

Bakker paid farewell to Ugandan farmers on Wednesday at an event held at the New Vision headquarters in Kampala.

"It is always very sad to leave Uganda, especially now where I feel part of my heart is. I will always remember Uganda," Bakker said.

He noted that leaving in the middle of coronavirus makes it even harder.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda Henk Jan Bakker will be leaving the country after serving for four years. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

He will be heading the Kingdom of the Netherlands embassy in Ethiopia and Djibouti.

"I'm leaving proud because we are succeeding in changing the mindset about farming. People are now proud of being called farmers and many are doing farming as a business. All those that have been profiled as best framers are role models and can take the button to others," Bakker said.

He noted that Uganda's agriculture sector has a great potential to transform the country and the livelihood of Ugandans.

Robert Kabushega (left), Vision Group CEO hands over an African traditional wear (kanzu) as a gift of appreciation to Henk Jan Bakker. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

The Vision Group, Managing Director Robert Kabushenga commended Bakker for his tireless efforts to increase the level of cooperation between Uganda and Netherlands.

"It is difficult for me to explain what you have done for the Ugandan farmer. You have changed many lives and now many people are into farming doing it as a business," Kabushanga said.

He credited Bakker for the support towards the Harvest Money Expo which grew from 15,000 in 2017 attendees to 30,000 in 2020.

Robert Kabushega (left), Vision Group CEO hands over a framed picture to Henk Jan Bakker. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

"As a farmer myself I know what it means. We have given farmers a voice and forced a lot of farmer issues to be addressed with these initiatives," Kabushenga said.

Kabushenga requested Bakker to brief the incoming ambassador about the gains made in the agriculture sector because of the cooperation between New Vision and the embassy.