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NAIROBI, Kenya- On Thursday, 9th October 2025, Uganda marked its 63rd Independence Anniversary with the main celebrations were held at Kololo Independence grounds with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the Guest of Honor.
On the other hand, Ugandans in various parts of the world celebrated independence in different countries, in different styles.
In Kenya, the same celebrations were held and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was represented by Dr. Hilary Musoke Kisanja, Senior Presidential Advisor on Agribusiness and Value Addition.
Museveni’s Full Speech
Distinguished guests, fellow Ugandans,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we celebrate 63 years of Uganda’s Independence, it’s a great honour and privilege to represent His Excellency, our President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the State House Diaspora Unit.
This day carries deep meaning. It reminds us of the courage, sacrifice, and unity of purpose that defined the men and women who fought for our freedom. Uganda’s independence was not handed to us, it was won through determination and the unshakeable belief that we, as Ugandans, were capable of charting our own destiny.
As we commemorate this milestone, we must remember that independence was not simply about lowering the Union Jack and raising the Ugandan flag. It was about reclaiming our dignity, our identity, and our right to determine the course of our future.
This year’s theme, “63 Years of Independence: A Reason to Double Our Efforts in Sustaining a United and Progressive Nation”, reminds us that the struggle for independence did not end in 1962. It continues today, in our collective pursuit of unity, economic transformation, and social progress.
Our founding fathers dreamed of a Uganda built on unity and self-reliance. That dream remains alive, and it is now our responsibility to protect and advance it by working together, supporting one another, and believing in our country’s boundless potential.
You, our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, are an integral part of that vision.
You are Uganda’s ambassadors abroad. Through your work, your innovation, and your remittances, you continue to contribute immensely to our national development.
But beyond the financial contributions, you hold something even more valuable, knowledge, experience, and global networks that can help transform Uganda. The government recognises this, and through the State House Diaspora Unit, we are working to ensure that every Ugandan abroad is visible, connected, engaged, and empowered.
The National Diaspora Policy, now in its final stages and expected to be ready by December, will formalise this engagement. It will ensure that diaspora interests are integrated into national planning and that Ugandans abroad are part of our development story.
We have also rolled out the Diaspora Data Management System, a tool designed to map diaspora skills and professions, helping Uganda understand where you are, what you do, and how you can participate in development back home. You can easily register through our QR code.
We now have a Diaspora App and soon, we shall have the Diaspora Call Centre. These will be one-stop centres for services, information, and problem-solving. Whether it’s passports, investment, or consular support, we want you to access government with ease. The app is available on Play Store, Apple Store, and our website www.diasporaaffairs.go.ug. You can also scan our QR code to download the app.
We are also working on the creation of a Diaspora Fund, inspired by successful regional models, to support diaspora-led businesses and community projects. Additionally, proposals for diaspora bonds and remittance-linked products are under active consideration. These initiatives will allow you to invest directly in your country’s growth, while also earning safe and reliable returns.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to speak briefly on an area close to my heart: agribusiness and value addition.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing the majority of our people and driving rural development. However, our focus today is not just on production but on value addition, turning our raw materials into finished products, creating jobs, and generating wealth for our people.
Uganda produces some of the finest coffee, tea, fruits, dairy, and grains in Africa. Yet much of it is exported in raw form, meaning we lose the greatest value to foreign markets. This must change.
We are therefore calling on the Ugandan diaspora to invest in agro-processing, packaging, and export logistics. You have the skills, exposure, and networks to connect Ugandan products to the global marketplace. Whether it’s promoting Ugandan coffee in cafés or exporting organic fruits to the Middle East, you have the power to make our products stand tall in the international arena.
The Government is committed to supporting such initiatives through the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), and targeted incentives for diaspora investors.
Let us use this opportunity to turn our agricultural wealth into industrial strength so that every Ugandan farmer feels the true value of their labour.
Our independence was built on unity, and that unity must remain our strength.
No nation can achieve greatness if its people are divided by politics or regional differences. Whether you are in Kampala, Nairobi, London, or Washington, we are one people, bound by one flag, one anthem, and one destiny.
We must learn from nations like India and China whose citizens abroad support one another and remain patriotic to their motherland. Let us borrow a leaf from them: when a Ugandan opens a restaurant, let other Ugandans dine there. When one starts a business, let us all support it. That is how we grow stronger as a community.
The Government can create the policy framework, but it is our shared responsibility as citizens to bring these policies to life through unity, cooperation, and mutual support.
As we celebrate 63 years of independence, let us rededicate ourselves to the cause of nation-building. Let us honour the heroes who fought for our freedom by working to sustain it, through enterprise, innovation, and love for our country.
Together, we can sustain a united, peaceful, and prosperous Uganda.
For God and My Country.
Dr. Hillary Emma Musoke
Senior Presidential Advisor on Agribusiness and Value Addition
