Museveni Welcomes Japanese Ambassador to Strengthen Uganda-Japan Ties

Entebbe, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday received Amb. Takahashi Misako, Director-General and Assistant Minister for African Affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and her delegation at State House, Entebbe. The meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, investment, education, health, and youth development.

Museveni thanked Japan for its longstanding support for key infrastructure projects, including the Kampala Flyover and the cable-stayed bridge in Jinja (Source of the Nile Bridge), as well as ongoing work related to the Karuma Bridge.

He urged Japan to facilitate the direct purchase of road construction equipment from Japanese suppliers—without middlemen—so that every urban centre in Uganda can have its own machinery rather than relying on shared district equipment. The President noted that equipment such as graders, trucks, compactors and other earth-moving machinery would help accelerate local road works. He indicated that durable, maintainable equipment (not necessarily brand-new) would be suitable, citing previous purchases from Japanese firms including Komatsu.

Museveni also invited greater Japanese investment in agro-processing to create jobs and drive prosperity. “Our aim is global affluence, everybody to be rich. When Uganda and Japan prosper together, everybody benefits,” he said, emphasising that mutual prosperity expands markets for both countries.

Amb. Takahashi noted Japan’s interest in expanding support. She said Japan is considering additional funding for the Kampala Flyover and related road upgrades, as well as possible assistance for the Kibuye-Busega road. On the reconstruction of the Karuma Bridge, she confirmed that a groundbreaking ceremony is planned for November and expressed hope that President Museveni would attend if his schedule allows.

She highlighted that 17 Japanese companies currently operate in Uganda across transport, health, manufacturing and agriculture, and commended the business environment created under Museveni’s leadership. Takahashi stressed the importance of maintaining a free and fair climate to attract further investment.

The discussions also covered human-resource development. More than 200 Ugandans have studied in Japan under government scholarship programmes, while over 4,000 have participated in Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training programmes. Japan has also deployed hundreds of overseas cooperation volunteers to Uganda over the years.

Takahashi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s refugee response—noting that Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa—and praised Uganda’s contributions to regional peace and stability, including deployments in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The meeting underscored the strong and growing partnership between Uganda and Japan, with both sides expressing readiness to expand cooperation for mutual benefit in infrastructure, trade, investment and human development.