The Uganda Embassy in Addis Ababa hosted hundreds of Ugandans, diplomats, and dignitaries at a colourful celebration to mark Uganda’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, held alongside a tourism and investment exhibition at the Hilton Hotel.

Guests were treated to an energetic cultural performance by the Crane Performers and received presentations from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), showcasing Uganda’s tourism potential and expanding investment opportunities.

Addis Ababa—home to the African Union (AU), countless diplomatic missions, and thousands of visiting dignitaries—was described as a strategic hub for attracting luxury tourists, investors, and multinational businesses.

In her remarks, Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the AU and Ambassador to Ethiopia, reflected on Uganda’s difficult past marked by divisive leadership and conflict.

She commended the country’s journey toward peace and unity, noting Uganda’s humanitarian leadership in hosting over 1.6 million refugees from neighbouring countries.

Amb. Otengo praised the strong bilateral relations between Uganda and Ethiopia, but emphasized the need for these ties to translate into concrete economic cooperation. She called for increased collaboration in trade, tourism, industry, and investment, saying such partnerships would directly improve the lives of citizens in both nations.

Ethiopia, with over 120 million people and the most advanced leather and textile industries in Africa, was highlighted as a growing source market for Ugandan tourism and investment. Many Ethiopians already live and invest in Uganda, particularly in real estate and trade.

Amb. Zerehun Abebe, Director of African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chief guest at the event, applauded Uganda’s contribution to peace and stability across Africa. He reiterated the immense opportunities available for both countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Amb. Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Chief of Staff at the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Office, lauded Uganda’s strong commitment to Pan-Africanism and its leadership in peace and security initiatives on the continent.

Representing the Ugandan community in Ethiopia, Capt. Dr. James Kanagwa thanked the government for prioritizing the diaspora in national development. Addis Ababa is home to a large number of Ugandan professionals working with the AU and international organizations.

The exhibition featured investment opportunities in tourism, agro-processing, energy, manufacturing, and services, with UIA and UTB urging investors to take advantage of Ethiopia’s large market and Uganda’s strategic export potential, including beef, dairy products, leather, textiles, and education services.

With four daily direct flights between Kampala and Addis Ababa, stakeholders highlighted enormous room for scaling business, tourism partnerships, and joint travel packages. Officials stressed that Uganda and Ethiopia do not compete in tourism but complement each other, enabling tour operators in both countries to design regional itineraries for global travelers.