Speaking yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala during South Korea’s 75th Armed Forces Day and National Day celebration, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa promised greater ties between the two governments. Tayebwa hailed the close ties between South Korea and Uganda that he said have blossomed over the years.
The Deputy Speaker highlighted Korea’s strategic partnership with Uganda in socio-economic development, enhancing sustainable production, productivity, and human capital development, aligning with Uganda’s national development goals.
Tayebwa commends the Republic of Korea for supporting peace in Africa by participating in peacekeeping operations in South Sudan and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
“In South Sudan, the Korean Corps of Engineers participated in infrastructure enhancements in Bor, Jongeli Province, which will have a significant effect on the economy of South Sudan. Uganda, a centre for peace and security in the Great Lakes region, believes that such international support for regional mechanisms can provide useful and effective instruments for preserving peace and security,” Tayebwa said.
The speaker focused on the importance of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and its many successful projects, such as the fruit processing factory in Soroti, the $864 million partnership between KOPIA and the National Agricultural Research Organisation and the Uganda Centre, and the partnership with the National Farmers Leadership Institute.
“I take this opportunity to invite Korean companies and individuals to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available in Uganda and invest, especially in Uganda’s strategic sectors of agriculture and agro-processing, oil and gas, minerals, ICT, human resource development, tourism, and infrastructure development,” noted the Deputy Speaker.
Park Sung Soo, the Korean Ambassador to Uganda, highlighted his country’s willingness for business and economic collaboration with Uganda. Noting that Korea is the 11th-largest global economy and the seventh-largest importer. He asked Uganda’s governance to establish a more welcoming climate for commerce and investment, and he promised more amicable discussions when President Yoon Suk Yeol hosts African heads of state at next year’s summit.
Park Sung-soo, said Armed Forces Day helps raise the morale of their army and remember their soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the peace and prosperity of South Korea.
“It is the day that South Korean forces broke through the 38th parallel in 1950 during the Korean War,” he said.
Ambassador Soo stated that Uganda and Korea have had solid relations for nearly six decades, with modest trade and investment accomplishments and relatively large-scale development collaboration, and are not about to end.
The function was attended by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem; the State Minister for Defence, Oboth Oboth; Maj. Gen. George Igumba; the Commandant, Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka; and the NEC Managing Director, Gen. James Mugira.
