Cuba to strengthen relations with Uganda

Jul 13, 2016

Pubillones, who was posted here in February this year, was speaking during a celebration held at the Cuban Embassy to mark the 63 anniversary of the 26th July, 1953 movement.

The Republic of Cuba has pledged to strengthen bilateral relationship and cooperation with Uganda, the new Cuban ambassador, Antonio Luis Pubillones has said.

"We shall continue to contribute to the development of Uganda.  We want to strengthen our friendship with this country, which now spans for over 46 years," he said.

He said that they will explore the available opportunities both in Uganda and Cuba to ensure that they work together for mutual benefit.

Pubillones, who was posted here in February this year, was speaking during a celebration held at the Cuban Embassy to mark the 63 anniversary of the 26th July, 1953 movement.

The 26th July Movement was a revolutionary organization led by Fidel Castro that overthrew the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in Cuba in 1959.

 uban mbassador to ganda ntonio uis ubillones  cuts cake with the guests to commemorate the 26th uly ovement 267 of uba Cuban ambassador to Uganda, Antonio Luis Pubillones (C) cuts cake with the guests to commemorate the 26th July Movement (M-26-7) of Cuba

 
The name 26th July Movement or M-26-7, originated from the failed attack on the Moncada garrison in the city of Santiago.

The party was organized by the Uganda- Cuba friendship society, members of the Pan African Movement and the friends of Cuba, most of who are graduates from the communist state. The party was organized in a typical Caribbean peasantry way to symbolize the humble beginnings of Cuba.

People were treated to lots of roasted goats meat, roasted pork, chicken, Cuban rice dishes, soup and boiled cassava. Different kinds of both soft and hard drinks were in plenty as Cuban music played in the background.

The chairman of the Uganda-Cuba friendship, Col. Barigye Ba-Hoku said that they decided to have an advance celebration because the ambassador and his wife are preparing to fly out for a vacation and will not be available on July 26.

He said that the 26th July Movement in Cuba and Tarehe Sita in Uganda are similar in a way that they both mark the beginning of revolutionary struggles against dictatorship.

 ubillones  shows his guest some the uban dancing strokes during the commemorations of the 26th uly ovement 267 Pubillones (C) shows his guest some of the Cuban dancing strokes during the commemorations of the 26th July Movement (M-26-7)

 
"We decided as graduates to use this day when his excellency is still around to get together and fraternize and remind ourselves that we are what  we are today because of Cuba," he said.

Florence Kintu Tumwine, the former Kalungu woman Member of Parliament in her speech recognized the contribution Cuba has done for the country, from giving scholarships, providing military training and offering doctors to train medical students from Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Gulu University.

"Even with the embargo imposed of them, Cuba continued to offer a helping hand to Uganda and other African countries. Most of us here are a product of Cuba," she said.

The party was also attended by the Ethiopian ambassador to Uganda.

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