Limpho Sello
UGANDANS living in different parts of Lesotho on Saturday marked the 54th anniversary of their country’s independence in a colourful ceremony at the Aloes Guest House in Sehlabeng.
The east African country got its independence from Britain on 9 October 1962 and the Ugandan Association in Lesotho (UAL) ensured the day was celebrated in style by hosting celebrations in this country.
AUL Secretary General Mr Emmanuel Sajjabi told the Lesotho Times that it was still an important occasion for them even though they were far away from home.
“On this day the Ugandan community introspects on how far we have come as a country and what we want to achieve as a group and as individuals,” Mr Sajjabi said.
“We celebrate independence because we are proud Ugandans. Our country is growing and we have a population of more than 40 million, half of it foreigners because of stability, security and a good education system among other things,” Mr Sajjabi said.
He said they were grateful for the hospitality extended to them by Basotho, adding they had also participated in the country’s golden jubilee of independence celebrations last week.
Foreign Service Officer Ms Charity Natukunda read a speech by Uganda’s High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda to Southern Africa Julius Peter Moto, which extolled the natural beauty of the east African country and painted a positive picture of economic growth.
“Although the country experienced economic hardships in the 1970s and a civil war in the early 1980s, the country has rebounded since 1986,” Ms Natukunda said.
“A new constitution was promulgated and with it a number of laws and administrative regulations were made that paved ways for the progress that the country has made in the economic and social spheres to date,” she added.
