Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for strengthening of relations between Uganda and Russia. Putin, in a letter addressed to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni stated that relations between the two countries have been “traditionally friendly” and stated that furthering these relations is in the interest of the people of both nations.
The letter, which was posted on the Russian Embassy’s twitter handle, carried a congratulatory message to Uganda upon attaining 60 years of Independence. “I am confident that further development of constructive bilateral cooperation in different areas meets the fundamental interests of our people and is in line with consolidating stability and security on the African continent,” Putin’s letter reads in part. Uganda on Sunday marked 60 years as an independent country, having ended British colonial rule on October 9 1962. In his address to the nation during the celebrations in Kampala, President Museveni stated that the 60 years since Independence have been eventful. He cited the wars and misrule that have characterised past governments, calling on Ugandans to embrace the era of social economic transformation that his government has fronted for the last 37 years.
Five Heads of State joined several foreign delegates in Uganda to attend country’s 60th Independence Day celebrations. President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and Chairman of the East African Community. Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, William Samoei Ruto of Kenya as well as the First Lady Rachel Ruto attended in person while Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi – President of Zanzibar, with First Lady Mariam Herman Mwinyi represented Tanzania’s President. Lihau Ebua Jean Pierre Vice the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Services represented Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda’s Gen Paul Kagame was represented by Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, the Minister of State for East African Community Affairs. Also present were Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki the Secretary General of the East African Community Affairs and Sadio Camara, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Mali.
President Yoweri Museveni has applauded Makerere University for fostering development through promoting science and technology.
“I congratulate Makerere University especially the science branch. The faculty of engineering, food science are doing well. The ICT I see them doing something also, I encourage them to deepen in what they are doing,” the President said.
Museveni made the remarks during Makerere University’s centennial celebrations Grand Finale which was held at the Institution’s Freedom Square on Thursday 6th October, 2022. Museveni was the chief celebrant where he unveiled the Mak@100 monument.
The centenary celebrations lasted a full year, having been launched by Museveni at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Independence Day, October 9, 2021. The theme for the centenary was ‘Leverage 100 Years of Excellence in Building a Transformed Society’ with an alternate one titled ‘A century of service to humanity’.
A series of activities including public lectures on luminaries in Makerere’s journey, exhibitions, a special sitting at parliament and a number of alumni homecoming dinners, among others were held over the year.
Luminary personalities blessed with a centenarian public lecture were Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, Frank Kalimuzo, Katikkiro Martin Nsibirwa, Prof Timothy Wangusa, Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, President Nelson Mandela and Prof William Senteza Kajubi.
Having opened its gates as a technical school to 14 barefooted students studying in grass-thatched huts in 1922, Makerere now boasts almost 40,000 students in 10 colleges with modern permanent structures. A multipurpose digital system, Mak Advance System that was launched on August 2, 2022, has established that Makerere has at least 400,000 alumni spread across the globe.
Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe told celebrants that Makerere currently offers 457 academic programmes and that has the largest library in the country which also acts as a national repository (alongside the National Library of Uganda) and as a repository for the United Nations Organisation (UN).
President Yoweri Museveni has commended the curators of Uganda Museum for unearthing and preserving Uganda’s heritage for the current and future generations. He stated that had the curators ignored the assignment, Uganda would have lost a lot of information. The President was on Wednesday evening speaking as the chief guest at the opening of Uganda History Exhibition that took place at the Uganda Museum in Kampala.
The Exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of Uganda’s Independence Celebrations. It celebrates the excitement, optimism and promise of 9th October 1962 while acknowledging that for many Ugandans, independence was a partial victory and a political triumph that left many injustices undressed. He faulted the traditional leaders for emphasising the separateness instead of commonalities that would have united the people of Uganda.
The Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime noted that the history exhibition has come at a time when his Ministry is planning to refurbish the Museum as part of the sector strategy of developing the Museum to International standards.
