PHOTOS: Ethiopia Enters New Year 2019 with Call for Unity in Diversity

KAMPALA, Uganda — September 6, 2026 — The Ethiopian Embassy in Uganda has celebrated Hibir Day with a call for Ethiopians to draw strength from their diversity and collective identity as the country moves into a new chapter of national development.

The celebration, held at Mestil Hotel & Residences in Kampala, brought together Ethiopian nationals and people of Ethiopian descent, Ugandan government officials, diplomats, business leaders, religious representatives and friends of Ethiopia.

The event was held under the theme “Diversity: The Ornament of Ethiopia”, with Ambassador Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu describing diversity as one of the defining characteristics of Ethiopia and a source of national strength.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Ambassador said: “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”

Hibir Day, observed during Pagume, the 13th month of the Ethiopian calendar, coincides with the transition into the Ethiopian New Year. Ambassador Yimenu said the period provides Ethiopians with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the previous year while renewing their aspirations for the future.

This year’s celebration was particularly significant, she said, coming after Ethiopia’s national election and national dialogue and following the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), alongside other national achievements recorded during 2018 E.C.

Kampala Central Division Mayor Salim Saad Uhuru (L) celebrates the Ethiopian 2019 New Year with Ambassador Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu

The Ambassador presented Ethiopia’s development journey as a product of collective effort, drawing historical and contemporary parallels between the country’s victory at Adwa and the construction of the Renaissance Dam.

“Together, with courage, we defended our borders and raised our flag above the mountains of Adwa, becoming a beacon for the world’s struggle for freedom,” she said.

“Together, through our collective efforts, we made the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam a reality as part of our journey toward a higher level of national development.”

Ambassador Yimenu also highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing national dialogue and economic reforms, saying they were part of efforts to build stronger institutions and a shared national narrative founded on multinational unity, equality, justice and fraternity.

Ambassador Etsegenet speaks to United States Defense Attaché Lt. Col. Christian Noumba. Looking on is the Ethiopian Embassy Defense Attaché.

She said Ethiopia was seeking to move beyond longstanding perceptions of the country as defined by poverty, conflict and dependency, towards a future characterised by sustainable peace, technological advancement, economic prosperity and stronger regional connectivity.

The Ambassador described Ethiopia’s diversity as extending across its languages, cultures, religions, traditional clothing, cuisine, landscapes and systems of social expression.

Yet, she noted, the country’s diverse communities share a common homeland and a history of collective sacrifice in defence of Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ambassador Etsegenet speaks to Mrs. Olive kigongo, President of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry

She pointed to Ethiopia’s cultural and natural heritage—including the Aksum obelisks, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Al-Nejashi Mosque, the Konso cultural landscape, the royal compounds of Gondar, Harar Jugol and Sof Omar Cave—as expressions of the country’s diverse but shared national heritage.

Call for Ethiopian diaspora solidarity

A significant part of the Ambassador’s address focused on Ethiopians living in Uganda.

She urged members of the community to strengthen mutual support and solidarity, stressing that Ethiopia’s culture of helping those in need should extend beyond the country’s borders.

“Helping one another should not happen only back home in Ethiopia. It has no borders,” she told the gathering.

Ethiopian delicacies including the famous injera formed part of the menu

She encouraged members of the Ethiopian community facing challenges to seek assistance through the Embassy’s Diaspora Affairs Unit, religious leaders and other community structures.

The Ambassador also acknowledged the Embassy’s responsibility in supporting Ethiopian citizens in Uganda, including in cases involving the repatriation of remains of deceased citizens.

Her appeal comes against the backdrop of broader efforts by the Ethiopian Embassy to deepen engagement with the Ethiopian community and strengthen Uganda-Ethiopia relations.

L-R; Ethiopian Airlines Country Manager Ms. Meron Tadesse, Mayor Salim Uhuru, Ambassador Etsegenet Yimenu Bezabih and Mr Robel Admaasu, Head of Political Affairs at the Ethiopian Embassy

Uganda’s Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare received Ambassador Yimenu for a courtesy call in August, where the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and air connectivity. They also discussed a mid-term review of the Uganda-Ethiopia Joint Ministerial Commission.

The two countries have also continued to emphasise their longstanding strategic relationship. In July, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Ambassador Yimenu reaffirmed the importance of Uganda-Ethiopia cooperation, including in defence and regional security.

Ambassador Yimenu said Ethiopia’s future would depend on maintaining the tradition of achieving national goals through collective effort.

“We must continue the legacy inherited from our ancestors—the tradition of achieving great things together through unity,” she said.

She urged Ethiopians in Uganda to use the New Year as an opportunity to “know one another better” and build a renewed spirit of togetherness.

The celebration featured Ethiopian and Ugandan cultural performances, literary presentations and the Ethiopian New Year song “Abebayehush,” underscoring the people-to-people dimension of relations between Ethiopia and Uganda.