President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today hosted Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Eri Arfiya, at State House Entebbe. The meeting focused on strengthening the longstanding diplomatic and economic relations between Uganda and Japan.
President Museveni warmly welcomed Ms. Arfiya and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to deepening its cordial ties with Japan. “We have a very good relationship with Japan—there are no issues at all,” the President remarked. He praised Japan’s contributions to key infrastructure projects in Uganda, such as the Jinja Nile Bridge, the Kampala Flyover, and the Gulu-Atiak Road, which he said have significantly advanced the country’s development agenda.
The President urged Japanese businesses to invest more actively in Uganda’s private sector, emphasizing that while bilateral aid is appreciated, long-term development is better driven through private investment. He highlighted Uganda’s potential as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market, expected to reach 2.5 billion people in the next 30 years. Investment opportunities in infrastructure—particularly railways and toll roads—under the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) were emphasized.
President Museveni also spoke on Uganda’s efforts in promoting regional stability and supporting displaced populations. He criticized neo-colonial interference and identity-based conflicts as root causes of regional instability. Despite these challenges, he affirmed Uganda’s continued willingness to host refugees until peace returns to their countries of origin.
Ms. Arfiya commended Uganda’s leadership in peacebuilding and humanitarian initiatives. “Uganda has done an incredible job in ensuring peace and stability. Japan will remain aligned with you on humanitarian support,” she said, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to ongoing cooperation
Ms. Arfiya extended an official invitation to President Museveni to attend the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), scheduled for August 2025. The President confirmed Uganda will be represented by a high-level delegation at the summit.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides. The Japanese delegation included Mr. Hayashi Tatsuro, Director of the Second Africa Division; Mr. Higashi Kunihiko, Director of Third Country Assistance Planning; and Mr. Sasayama Takuya, Ambassador of Japan to Uganda. Uganda was represented by Hon. Okello Oryem, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Elly Kafeero from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
