Speech By H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President Of The Republic Of Uganda

AT THE LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF H.E. PARK GUEN-HYE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA STATE HOUSE ENTEBBE 29TH MAY, 2016

Your Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea,
Your Excellencies, members of the Delegation from Korea,
Honorable Ministers,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Your Excellency,

The people of Uganda and myself welcome you to our country on this historic visit. We salute the Korean people who have, within a period of just 60 years, risen from destitution and poverty to the 28th richest country in the world today in terms of the size of the GDP and GDP per capita. The Korean people were able to achieve this on account of discipline, hard work and the development of the human resource through education. Your father, General Park Chung Hee, played a decisive role in that transformation.

The Korean people are an ancient people whose specific identity can be traced as far back as 1392. Unfortunately, your nation was divided at the end of the 2nd World War. The African patriots, always support the peaceful reunification of the Korean nation.

Uganda is undergoing socio-economic transformation through universal education, the modernization of infrastructure and the modernization of agriculture. With improved infrastructure, we are now able to address the issues of industrialization, the modernization of services and the development of ICT.

There is a great potential for co-operation between South Korea and Uganda for the mutual benefit of both countries. We can buy from and sell to one another. Uganda, with a population of 38 million people, that will be about 100 million by 2050, is, moreover, part of the huge African continent with a current population of 1.25 billion people. By 2050, the population of the African continent will be 2.5 billion people.

South Korea is part of the huge Asian continent and its population of 4.4billion people. The potential for the two areas is huge. I am glad you came to visit us so that we put more bricks on that potentially very lucrative co-operation.

It is my honour to propose a toast for the good health and success of Your Excellency.

I thank you.

Meanwhile President Park Geun-hye of South Korea has urged the business community in Uganda and her country to tap into the existing cordial relationship Uganda has with South Korea in order to enhance business operations for the benefit of the two brotherly countries and their peoples.

President Park Geun-hye was yesterday addressing guests at the Uganda-Korea Business Forum that was organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Private Sector Foundation at Acwa Hall, Serena Hotel in Kampala.

The visiting Korean Head of State highlighted several areas in which her government will partner with Uganda, mainly large-scale agriculture, infrastructure development, health especially the fight against cancer and tuberculosis for the benefit of Ugandans and the whole of East Africa.

President Park Geun-hye lauded President Museveni and Ugandans in general for the warm welcome adding her visit will be an important milestone in the opening up of a new chapter of co-operation with Uganda as the country steadily marches on the path of dynamic development.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, while welcoming President Park Geun-hye, noted that the visit is a celebration of the 50-year ties between Uganda and South Korea. She added that the visit served as a good platform for business to prevail between the two countries. She said that the partnership between Uganda and South has enabled the establishment of many projects in Uganda. She hailed the South Korean Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Park Jong-Dae, for a job well done.

The Chairman of the Private Sector Foundation, Mr. Patrick Bitature, said the visit of the President of South Korea to Uganda, will see the business tempo between the two countries grow especially in the agro-processing sector among others.

Later, President Park Geun-hye attended a cultural gala to celebrate the friendship and exchange of culture between South Korea and Uganda.

Speaking shortly after the performances at Victoria hall, Serena in Kampala, where several Ugandan and Korean performances and dances were showcased, President Park Geun-hye saluted the performers saying that the sharing of culture and experiences, was one way of showing affection and appreciation to one another.

President Park ended a two visit and flew back this afternoon.