The world through her eyes is a place where possibilities are endless,  and with a heart that desires more for other’s well-being, she has managed to achieve a lot at a very young age — catering  her life’s work to making  the  world a better place for women who are voiceless and creating space for those who also have similar goals of empowerment. Ugandan-born  Ambassador Judyth Nsababera is a diamond among pearls and graced us with an invitation to her home in Guangzhou,  China, to have an in-depth talk where she not only shared her home with us but her passions as well. Ambassador Judyth Nsababera generously shared her experiences in her peacekeeping  projects, her career as an ambassador, and other works that she has ventured into  from time to time with Outlook New Era. She led the conversation by introducing her country, Uganda,  and elaborated on what her views on life are. She also abundantly enlightened us about the partnership and friendship between China and Uganda.

Uganda, “The Pearl of Africa”

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Kenya borders the country to the east, South Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Rwanda to the south-west, and Tanzania to the south.  A number of years ago,  when Mr. Winston Churchill,  who was prime minister of the United Kingdom at the time, traveled  around Africa, he was astonished by the rich nature and weather in Uganda. Enchanted by the abundant fauna and flora of the Ugandan land, he called it the pearl of Africa.

When asked what is the most special thing that she would like the world to know about Uganda is, Ambassador Judyth said,  “Uganda has the most kind people you will ever meet. They  are genuine, they are friendly,  and when you meet them,  they genuinely want to be your friend…” This shows the world that Uganda is not only wealthy in nature, but the people there are very hospitable and welcoming, and this extends all the way up to the highly esteemed, his Excellency president (His Excellency President,) Yoweri Museveni. In Ambassador Judyth’s words, he is a father to the nation, and he expresses his accommodating nature by relating with different people of the world in their own dialects. Be it a village in Uganda or a different country in Africa, he makes means to have a respectful understanding with the people of that particular place. She shared that anything that is put in the ground in Uganda will grow, and that means there will always be food to feed not just Uganda but the world. This further supports the saying that Uganda is a place where seeds are nurtured to become fruitful in life.

Intertwining Uganda and China for reciprocated growth

As much as the country is wealthy in natural resources, it is also developing, and sharing what it has to offer to the world. One of the strongest cooperations or friendships that Uganda has is with China. Ambassador Judyth mentioned that due to the infrastructure development that China has brought to Uganda, traveling around the country has become more convenient which not only benefits the people in Uganda but also aids in the travel and tourism industries of the country, allowing tourists to travel within the country comfortably. She said that infrastructure is a vital aspect of development and growth, especially on the African continent. The country is also exploring the raw mineral sector of exporting oil, and one of the companies that has partnered in this is a Chinese company. Last year, in celebration of the 60th year of diplomatic ties, the government of the Republic of Uganda decided that they would build a chancery in Guangzhou to strengthen and further solidify the partnership. She stated, “Putting bricks and water basically says that we are not going anywhere.”

In a China Daily news report, it was stated that Ugandan coffee farmers are preparing to increase sales in the key Chinese market, following the removal of tariffs on a variety of agricultural items from the African country by Beijing. According to the Chinese trade ministry, with the zero-tariff agreement between the two countries, which went into force on December 1, 2022, Uganda plans to export 100,000 metric tons of coffee to China every month this year.

To enrich the contents of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Uganda, the Chinese embassy in Uganda welcomes citizens of Uganda to apply for the 2023-2024 Chinese government scholarships. This act has been present for years on end and has also made some advancements in improving  the quality of education. Ambassador Judyth said that it is truly an honor and joy to be interviewed by someone from the continent who is also a recipient of this scholarship. This just showed that China’s kindness and generosity stretch out to different parts of the world. On this note, she further expressed her deep interest in the Chinese language and culture and how being able to be here at this moment was truly appreciated.

For a long time, coffee, tea, cotton, among others, were considered cash crops and have been for the longest time in the hands of the government of Uganda. It is only recently that all of this has been put in the private sector, run solely by private investors and farmers, trading and making business off of it. The government created an agency called the Ugandan Coffee Development Authority that coordinates all that has to do with promoting coffee to the world. Working with this agency, it has been easier to work with China in ways that benefit Ugandan coffee farmers, traders, and all the other organizations that work in the Ugandan coffee industry, as well as benefit consumers of coffee around the world. Ambassador Judyth expressed that coffee has a wide range in business; it is not only sold for consumption but it is also found in cosmetics, alcoholic beverages among others, making it possible for a number of businesses to reap some benefits as well. One of the most popular foods in Uganda amongst many is coffee, and Kisoro being her hometown, her favorite brand is Kisoro Arabica coffee. This is a rich and deep coffee brand that has a variety of flavors and is planning on making more to accommodate the taste buds of the rest of the world. As she markets this coffee, she said, “Once you know what coffee tastes like, you will know the value of coffee”. The consul general also promotes the coffee by hosting cupping events where people get to taste the coffee, different kinds of beans and more.

2023 is the 10th  anniversary of  the Belt and Road Initiative. Also, the 20th CPC National Congress and the 2023 National Two Sessions bring vitality to China and the world. This is just the beginning of more advancements, such as the making of a direct flight from Uganda straight into Guangzhou, China and vice versa, eliminating travel complications on tourism seeing that the location of Uganda in east Africa makes it a cradle of humanity and also making it easier to bring products in and out of Uganda into China. This creates more agricultural and consumption investment platforms from all over the world because Uganda has the land, resources, and a strong labor force. “Our commitment is stronger than ever in terms of how we are going to develop,” she added. It also seemed to have been very smooth for her as she settled in Guangzhou, as she did mention that she is a city girl all the way; however, Guangzhou offered more than just city life to her; it offered exceptional cuisine, nature in the city, and a peace of mind due to its safety.

Ambassador Judyth, “the space creator”

“Being a woman, raising a daughter make you realize that it is important to speak for those who are not in a position to speak for themselves, and I believe it is important to always look out for women because they are an integral part of our community and society, and if there is any group that cannot or is unable to speak for themselves, then I will definitely jump in [to help],“ she exclaimed. Having been raised by a single mother of seven children and seeing the struggles and beauties of being a mother, Ambassador Judyth’s character has been molded in a way that led her to decide on dedicating her life to being the hope and voice for those who are challenged. Rooted and grounded in nurturing disciplines, she ventured into projects where she is not just a motivation for others but she is also becoming the best version of herself, fully proving how actually possible it is to not be bounded by the tribulations of life. Even during times of difficulty, such as traveling with her young daughter at the peak of COVID-19, where she had no control over  the circumstances and had to think about the well-being of both her and her child, she still remained true to her authenticity and stayed faithful to fulfilling what she viewed as her purpose in life. All of this did not happen overnight, and it took a lot of different kinds of exposures and experiences for her to keep this passion alive, and she truly is blazing a trail for the younger women who are coming after her with similar intentions. It is also very motivating and supportive to be in an environment or surroundings that fuel your fire and to see other people who make the same efforts succeed and make tangible progress.

With a reputation that precedes her and a bag full of prestigious, internationally recognized titles, Ambassador Judyth wishes to be remembered as a space creator and a connector. Creating a platform where women can express themselves freely and more, connecting people to each other’s paths of greatness. All of the titles and tags she has accumulated and achieved over the years were not for boastfulness or self-pride, but for the pride of others and for genuinely shedding a different light on the nations. Life changes and a lot of things evolve, but different stages of life require different kinds of ignitions. Though she may have started this journey with the pain of facing all the difficulties she had faced, the happiness she has experienced over the years has kept her afloat, and right now her daughter is her core motivation for keeping the flame of ambition ignited. Change is not just the end; it is the beginning of something new. Her job as an ambassador allows her to bring Uganda to the world and also bring the world to Uganda.

As she proceeded to show her appreciation, Ambassador Judyth expressed her gratitude to Outlook New Era magazine and its team for giving her the opportunity to share about her work, culture, and country so that people can understand the African culture better and also for creating a platform for people from other countries to be able to expand their horizons in different fields.

(Outlook New Era)