Rugunda to represent Museveni at Banyakigezi Convention

Vision Reporter

PRIME Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda is in United States of America to represent President Yoweri Museveni at the Banyakigezi Convention and speak at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Awards ceremony.

The Prime Minister’s trip started with a speech at the Nelson Mandela Prize awards event on Friday 24 July at the United Nations headquarters in New York, The Banyakigezi gathering in Dallas Texas take place on 30 July 2015.

The Mandela awards ceremony was part of the commemorative events by the UN General Assembly to mark the Nelson Mandela International Day.

Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual international day in honour of the former South African President, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday.

The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. The day is marked in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom. 

Dr Rugunda’s participation at the events in New York was at the invitation of the President of United Nations General Assemby, Sam Kutesa. For the first time, the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, established by the UN General Assembly on 6 June 2014, will be awarded to the 2015 laureates. 

In declaring the day, the UN recognised Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and underdeveloped communities. 

In Dallas, Texas, Prime Minister Rugunda will join people from the greater Kigezi region, under their umbrella association, The International Community of Banyakigezi (ICOB) for their annual convention from July 30 to 3 August 2015. He will represent President Yoweri Museveni as guest of honor.  

The theme of this year’s convention is Towards a Better Tomorrow; Unlocking Kigezi’s Human and Economic Potential.