Algiers, October 9, 2026 — Uganda’s 64th Independence Anniversary was commemorated in Algiers with a diplomatic reception highlighted by strengthened bilateral ties between Uganda and Algeria.
The celebration was graced by Honourable Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, who attended as the Chief Guest, alongside a special gesture from Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who gifted a bouquet of flowers to Uganda conveyed through Ambassador John Chrysostom Alintuma Nsambu.
Addressing the gathering—which included the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Vice-Dean of the African Group, fellow heads of mission, Ugandan compatriots, and distinguished guests—Uganda’s Head of Mission, H.E. Ambassador John Chrysostom Alintuma Nsambu, described Independence Day as both a moment of commemoration and a solemn commitment.
Ambassador Nsambu noted that freedom requires constant vigilance, fairness, and responsibility, while also offering an opportunity for brotherhood and reflection on the kind of freedom being built. He recalled that Uganda gained independence from Great Britain 64 years earlier. The first two decades were marked by political turmoil and economic decline, a situation reversed after President Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took leadership in 1986, ushering in a socio-economic transformation with an average annual growth rate of 5 percent.
The ambassador emphasized the warm and cordial relations between Uganda and Algeria spanning more than six decades, strengthened by frequent high-level visits. The two countries share values rooted in Pan-Africanism, culture, and respect for African traditions.
They hold similar positions on the Western Sahara issue and support a two-state solution for Palestine, ties further reinforced by Uganda’s membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Economic cooperation has expanded significantly, with notable increases in Ugandan coffee and milk exports to the Algerian market. As a concrete example of balanced trade, all steel used in Uganda’s four stadiums for the co-hosted 2027 Africa Cup of Nations was imported from Algeria. President Museveni welcomed President Tebboune’s directive to Algerian state-owned coffee-importing entities, including Cetrade and MADR, to source Ugandan coffee directly from farmers, bypassing European intermediaries and improving growers’ livelihoods.
On human resource development, the ambassador extended thanks—via the guest of honor and the Algerian government—for scholarships awarded to more than 500 Ugandan students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as training opportunities for members of Uganda’s security sector.
Sports diplomacy has also contributed to the relationship, including joint participation in tournaments such as CHAN 2025 in Kampala and Algeria’s hosting of canyon/national team fixtures. As co-hosts of AFCON 2027, Uganda looks forward to welcoming the Algerian team and its supporters.
The floral gift from President Tebboune, presented through Ambassador Nsambu Alintuma, added a personal note of goodwill to the occasion. In closing, the ambassador proposed a toast to the health of the two presidents, the warm relations between Uganda and Algeria, and the economic prosperity of both peoples.
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