OIC secretary general arrives in Uganda

By Raymond Baguma   
                                
The secretary general of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad bin Ameen Madani is in the country to discuss bilateral cooperation issues.

OIC is a global association of Islamic states promoting solidarity among Muslims in economic, social, and political issues.

Madani will hold meetings with high ranking government officials including the President, the minister of finance, planning and economic development as well as visit the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU).

“As part of his familiarization tour, he is coming to meet government officials and understand the development needs of Uganda as a member state of OIC and how OIC can help address the needs,” said Dr. Ahmad Ssengendo, the Rector of IUIU.

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Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)  Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani (right) is in the country to discuss bilateral cooperation issues. PHOTO/Kennedy Oryema

Madani arrived in the country Tuesday and was received at Entebbe Airport by the state minister of finance Fred Omach, as well as well as the senior presidential advisor Al hajj Kirunda Kivejinja.

OIC is the world’s second largest international organization after the United Nations. The organization has a membership of 57 countries on four continents, including Uganda which joined in 1974.

Madani is of Saudi Arabian nationality. He was born in 1946, and has served in various positions in the Saudi Arabian government.

He was in 1999 the minister in charge of Hajj until February 2005. He also held the portfolio of minister of culture and information in February 2005. He was also chairman of the board of directors of Knowledge Economic City in Madinah in 2012.

In November 2012, Saudi Arabia nominated Madani to the post of secretary general of OIC at the 39th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC member states in Djibouti.

He was officially elected as secretary general of OIC during the 12th Summit of the OIC in Cairo last year and his term became effective in January 2014.