Museveni To Brief Locals On SMART

By Steven Odeu PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni is to address all local participants in the SMART Partnership dialogue on Friday at Speke Resort, Munyonyo. Eleven heads of state and government, including nine presidents and three prime ministers, have so far confirmed participation. The Minister of Water, Land and Environment, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who is also the joint convener of the dialogue, said, “President Museveni will meet all local participants on Friday afternoon at Munyonyo to strategise on how the country can benefit from the dialogue. The dialogue, to be attended by over 10 heads of state and governments will be opened by Museveni on Saturday over a cocktail party that starts at 7:00pm. The four-day business dialogue will be attended by over 600 participants from 23 countries. “This is going to be the highest attendance of heads of state and government since the concept, SMART Partnership dialogue, was established in 1995,” Rugunda said. Among the heads of state to arrive on Friday and Saturday for the dialogue are president Festus Mogae of Botswana and First Lady Barbara Mogae and President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya. Others are President Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, Premier Mahathir bin Mahamad of Malaysia, President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, and Namibia Premier, Hage Geingob. Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Omar el-Bashir of Sudan, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania and Swaziland kingdom Premier Dr. Barnabas Dlamini will also attend. The Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon and Zimbabwean Vice-President Joseph Msika will also participate. Other heads of state expected for the dialogue are Joseph Kabila of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, A delegation from Lybia will also attend. Ends