Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uganda

On March 26, 1963, the Republic of Korea and Uganda agreed to begin bilateral relations. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea was commissioned in that very year, but closed its doors in 1994. It reopened on May, 2011, and quickly became a fully-fledged embassy on December 30, 2011.

Recently, the areas of human resource exchange and economic growth have been receiving a lot of attention.

We are especially active in the developmental areas. Uganda is one of the ODA (official donor assistance) nations of Korea. In October 2012, both countries concluded a grant-aid agreement that will encourage even greater bilateral cooperation. KOICA volunteers will be dispatched to Uganda, and they will enable even quicker implementation of projects that are currently under way.

KOICA is currently working on a number of projects and propositions: a fruit processing factory in Teso, a National Farmers Leadership Center, the Korea Millennium Village Project, and more. They are also working alongside NGOs such as Child Fund and World Vision to implement an even greater number of projects. The Korea Import/Export Bank has recently concluded a loan agreement in line with the ‘Education Project IV’ and also, in the near future to build roads and infrastructure in Uganda.

Furthermore, Korea handed over several Master Plans such as E-Government initiation in Uganda, thus becoming a dynamic force of change among donor nations. Training facilities such as the ‘New Village Movement’ and ‘Canaan Farmer’s School’ offer great opportunities for Ugandans to travel to Korea and learn how to develop their agriculture.

Although our scale is not yet as large as we would like it to be, we are slowly expanding our relationships to more than simply developmental. In January 2012, the Korean embassy hosted a Uganda Economic Forum and in August 2012, Korea also hosted the Uganda-South Sudan investor’s forum. Uganda resulted in taking part and cooperating in our 2012 Korea Yeosu Expo.

Cultural elements of cooperation have also been present, with the Embassy having organized 2012 Korea Film Festival in Kampala, and they will continue to be an integral part of our bilateral relationship.

March 26, 2013 marks the 50th year of Korean-Ugandan partnership. In May 2013, there was a Korea-Uganda summit meeting in the Korean presidential office at CHEONG WA DAE, and there was another between the President of the Republic of Korea and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in September 2014 to discuss how to promote a relationship between the two countries.

From May 28 to 30 2016, President Park Geun-hye paid a state visit to Uganda. In May 29, there was Korea-Uganda summit meeting at the State House in Entebbe. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including the economy, development and national defense. We held a cultural exchange performance called 'K-Culture in Uganda' and a 'Korea-Uganda business forum' on the same day.

We will do our utmost to raise the level of cooperation and friendship between two countries, and we look forward to continued prosperity.