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FILE PHOTO: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. /AFP

Uganda celebrates Independence Day with emphasis on economic growth

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Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni addresses the nation at State House in Entebbe, Uganda, on September 9, 2018. (Photo by SUMY SADURNI / AFP/ Getty Images)

Uganda on Friday marked its 58th Independence Day anniversary with a focus on economic growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Yoweri Museveni presided over a live broadcast of the celebrations from State House Entebbe, about 40 km south of the capital.

“We shut the borders except for cargo and we are here. Our economy grew by 3.2 percent even with the pandemic,” he said. “Uganda’s economy has advanced to a point where it can be self-sufficient.”

He said the pandemic has provided a great opportunity for the East African country to accelerate import substitution and exports.

The ceremony used to attract thousands of people, but this year less than 100 guests attended due to the epidemic.

The east African country gained independence from British colonial rule on October 9, 1962.

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