The Hon. Minister of State for International Affairs, Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, this afternoon received copies of letters of credence presented to him by the Ambassador-designate of Japan, H.E. Takuya Sasayama.
Amb. Takuya Sasayama has worked in the Japanese Foreign Service since 1988 and arrived in Uganda as Ambassador-designate, replacing Amb. Fukuzawa Hidemoto, and having previously served as Consul-General of Japan in Toronto.
He has had duty tours in Washington, DC, Seoul, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Ottawa and Egypt. He relayed warm greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan who fondly remembered the kind reception he received during his visit to Uganda in 2023.
Hon. Okello welcomed Amb. Sasayama to Uganda hailing the long historic friendship with Japan, and highlighting Japan’s generosity to the people of Uganda through Technical Assistance Programs under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD).
Hon. Okello stressed that the government of Uganda appreciates the spirit with which Japan approaches matters of development assistance with Africa, particularly the mutual respect and equal partnership extended to those who receive her offers.
“Uganda highly appreciates Japan’s readiness to listen to her bilateral partners and the spirit of non-interference in the relations of bilateral partners; Mutual respect is important to the foundation of any bilateral relationship” he said.
Amb. Sasayama expressed his delight at the prospect of working in Uganda and touring the country, especially the 286 Japanese Government Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP )which were begun across Uganda in 1992 to date.
He informed Hon. Okello that the projects are a priority for Japan and have proven successful, with the Embassy set to launch more of them.
In his time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Amb. Sasayama has also held positions as the Director of the APEC Division of the Economic Affairs Bureau as well as Director of the First South East Asian Affairs Department.
Hon. Okello wished him a successful tour of duty in Uganda.