Bujumbura, Burundi — Under the theme, “A reason to double our effort in sustaining a united and progressive nation,” the Uganda Embassy in Bujumbura celebrated Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day with a grand dinner at the Embassy Chancery on Thursday, 9th October 2025.
The celebration attracted 548 distinguished guests, including members of the Ugandan diaspora living, studying, and working in Burundi, as well as Ambassadors, Heads of Missions, senior government officials, clergy, and representatives of Burundi’s business community.
Guests enjoyed an array of Ugandan cuisine and drinks, including the iconic Uganda Waragi, and were entertained by a cultural troupe performing traditional dances from various regions of Uganda.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi, His Excellency Major General (Rtd) Matayo Kyaligonza, presided over the event alongside the Chief Guest, Severin Mbarubukeye, Permanent Secretary for East African Affairs, who represented Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, Ambassador Edourd Bizimana.
In his remarks, Ambassador Kyaligonza reflected on the shared history and enduring relationship between Uganda and Burundi.
“Uganda and Burundi have a common history rooted in the colonization of our two countries; and the struggles that we went through over the years to liberate ourselves from the colonizers have shaped the destiny of each of our countries,” he said.
He noted that ties between the two nations predate colonial times, strengthened by trade and cultural exchanges, and encouraged Ugandans living in Burundi to “remain true Ambassadors of our country, by building on the bedrock of the historical strong ties that have always existed between Uganda and Burundi.”
Kyaligonza congratulated Burundi for successfully conducting peaceful parliamentary elections earlier in 2025 and invited guests to visit Uganda, describing it as “the Pearl of Africa” and home to world-famous attractions such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley National Parks, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
In his address, Mbarubukeye commended the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing their shared values of brotherhood and mutual support during times of insecurity and crisis.
He called on officials from both nations to convene a joint technical meeting soon to assess ongoing collaborations and plan the 4th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) and Uganda–Burundi Business Forum.
