A very warm welcome to you all on this occasion of the Swedish National Day 2022. And a special welcome to our guest of honour, Hon. Henry Oryem Okello, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
This event is an occasion to celebrate and reaffirm the close collaboration between Sweden and Ugandan partners, manifesting the multitude of relations between our two countries. And it is a special pleasure for me to address you here tonight on my first National Day in Uganda. The very warm welcome I have received upon my arrival to the Pearl of Africa testifies to the fact that Uganda and Sweden have been close friends for a long time.
I have this first year come across numerous people to people links between our two countries. Many prominent Ugandans, including members of the First Family, had to flee their own country not that long ago and seek refuge in Sweden. Some stayed, others returned when the situation allowed for it. And whereas Makerere University this year celebrates its hundredth anniversary, we had our own celebrations last month marking two decades of Uganda – Sweden research collaboration. A collaboration that has established strong institutional, professional and personal bonds between the participating universities and institutions.
Later this year, Sweden and Uganda will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. These 60 years are the foundation for a relation which is increasingly becoming more dynamic and forward-looking. This is perhaps best illustrated by our cooperation with the Ugandan energy sector.
Sweden is a long-term partner to Uganda in renewable energy and our cooperation has grown substantially over the years to the extent that it now stands on two legs – aid and trade. Since 2019, a MoU provides a framework for our cooperation with the Ugandan energy sector, and I was happy to recently sign an agreement with Hon. State Minister for Minerals extending it for three more years.
Sweden is today among the most important development partners in Uganda. Our vision for Uganda is no different than for our own country: a prosperous, open, democratic and peaceful society.
Creating opportunities for people living in poverty to improve their living conditions is the overarching goal of all our development assistance. However, poverty is not just about lack of material resources but about lack of freedom, choice and political power. We strongly believe, based on our own experiences, that democratic and socio-economic development requires citizen participation to drive change and ensure accountable government.
On this basis, efforts to support, defend and sustain the work of civil society are fundamental in Swedish foreign policy and Swedish engagement to promote global development. This priority is deeply grounded in a domestic tradition of dialogue with civil society as a way to address and overcome shared challenges. I therefore regret that our support to civil society in Uganda through the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) remains suspended after more than a year.
Hon Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,
“A healthy planet for the prosperity of all - our responsibility - our opportunity.”
This was the vision for Stockholm+50 meeting last week. Fifty years after the landmark 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm – the first UN conference about the environment – Sweden once again invited the world to consider the pathways to a truly sustainable future.
Science has unfolded the scale of the triple planetary crisis, the crisis of climate change; the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss; and the crisis of pollution and waste. And the science has outlined how it is hitting vulnerable communities the hardest, which we have also seen here in Uganda.
But science and the environmental movement have also delivered an understanding of the solutions. It is still possible to create a better future, but only if we act together. I am proud that Sweden is among the worlds’ largest providers of climate financing. In Uganda we work with the government, civil society, academia, private sector, the World Bank and the United Nations to increase the resilience to climate change and to promote sustainable use of natural resources. By adopting ambitious climate policies, Sweden is not only doing its part in global efforts to address climate change, but also hope to inspire others to take bold action.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the Government of Uganda and the UNDP for the excellent cooperation ahead of the meeting in Stockholm, with inclusive and action-oriented consultations making sure that the delegation led by Hon. Minister for Water and Environment was giving voice to the perspectives of the Ugandan people, not least the youth.
It is in this spirit of friendship, committed partnership and co-operation that I have the privilege to greet you all on our National Day.
Before concluding, let me thank all Embassy and Residence staff for helping with the arrangements for tonight’s event as well as my husband Carlos.
I also want to wish all the best to our two colleagues – Gity and Emma – who will be leaving the Embassy this summer.
Thank you very much and enjoy the evening.
