The Republic of Uganda celebrates its National Day today (Saturday).

Uganda, a landlocked country on the equator in East Africa, is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala.

Uganda is home to many ethnic groups, none of whom forms a majority of the population. Around 40 different languages are currently in use in the country. English became the official language of Uganda after independence. Ugandan English has a local flavor.

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soil, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. The country has largely untapped reserves of crude oil and natural gas. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80 percent of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.

For the last 20 years, Uganda has pursued economic policy reforms that have imposed fiscal discipline, restructured public expenditure, and promoted liberalization of the economy. This was in response to the economic problems the country experienced prior to 1986. Because of the prudent macro-economic policies, Uganda recorded an impressive economic performance in the last decade with an average real rate of annual growth in Gross Domestic Product registered at 6.9 percent. The country has commenced economic reforms and growth has been robust. Uganda is part of the East African Community and a potential member of the planned East African Federation.

We congratulate the people and government of the Republic of Uganda led by their Excellencies, President Yoweri Museveni and Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, on the occasion of their National Day. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.