Uganda-Libya ties date back to 1970s
Mar 16, 2008
Uganda has had strong ties with Libya since the 1970s. Since Museveni took power in 1986, relations between the two countries have deepened.
By Vision Reporter
Uganda has had strong ties with Libya since the 1970s.
Since Museveni took power in 1986, relations between the two countries have deepened.
Museveni has at several occasions praised Gadaffi for his support to his National Resistance Army.
He has also lauded the Libyan leader for his strong Pan-African vision and his call for the integration of African countries into the United States of Africa.
However, Museveni did not support Gadaffi’s bid for a United Africa in Accra, Ghana, last year.
Gadaffi is also credited for helping restore diplomatic relations between Uganda and Sudan, which had been severed in April 1995.
In May 2001, Gadaffi attended the swearing-in of President Museveni at Kololo ceremonial grounds.
He also addressed an extra-ordinary Movement conference in Kampala where he advised Museveni not to retire.
“You should not retire or resign. Revolutionaries don’t retire or resign. People who come through revolutions should stay in those revolutions for the rest of their lives because they did not come through elections,†Gadaffi said.
It is during his 2001 visit that Gadaffi met the young king of Toro, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru, and offered to help his kingdom. Oyo appointed Gadaffi his adviser.
A month later, King Oyo and his entourage travelled to the Libyan capital Tripoli in a special plane provided by Gadaffi - a visit during which he invited the Libyan leader to his coronation anniversary celebrations.
Indeed, Gadaffi returned to Uganda in July to attend the sixth coronation anniversary of King Oyo at Karuziika Palace in Fort-Portal and was granted the highest honour of the tribe, ‘the defender of the Toro kingdom.’
He travelled with a 250-strong entourage in a convoy which stretched one mile. In other engagements to show fraternity, Gadaffi’s son, Al-Saad Maummar el Gadaffi, led a 90-man contingent of the Libyan football team for a friendly match with the Cranes in early 2000.
In August of the same year, Gadaffi’s daughter, Aisha, flew into the country on a private jet to attend the give-away (kuhingira) of Museveni’s daughter, Natasha, to Edwin Karugire. As a sign of appreciation, the two leaders have also been giving each other medals. On a visit to Libya in October 1998, Museveni received the ‘Al Fatah Medal’, granted to outstanding revolutionaries.
In May 2004, Museveni in turn decorated Gadaffi with Uganda’s highest military medal, The Order of Katonga, for his contribution to the National Resistance Army struggle.
Gadaffi was appreciated by the UPDF as “a great fighter who made immense contribution to the liberation of Uganda as early as June 1981,†Museveni said during the decoration.
Gadaffi, he said, had always been at the forefront when it came to liberating Africa and unifying the continent. Museveni also praised him for helping unite Muslims in Uganda and building for them a mosque in Kampala.
Gadaffi is expected to officially open the multi-million complex on Wednesday.
Uganda has had strong ties with Libya since the 1970s.
Since Museveni took power in 1986, relations between the two countries have deepened.
Museveni has at several occasions praised Gadaffi for his support to his National Resistance Army.
He has also lauded the Libyan leader for his strong Pan-African vision and his call for the integration of African countries into the United States of Africa.
However, Museveni did not support Gadaffi’s bid for a United Africa in Accra, Ghana, last year.
Gadaffi is also credited for helping restore diplomatic relations between Uganda and Sudan, which had been severed in April 1995.
In May 2001, Gadaffi attended the swearing-in of President Museveni at Kololo ceremonial grounds.
He also addressed an extra-ordinary Movement conference in Kampala where he advised Museveni not to retire.
“You should not retire or resign. Revolutionaries don’t retire or resign. People who come through revolutions should stay in those revolutions for the rest of their lives because they did not come through elections,†Gadaffi said.
It is during his 2001 visit that Gadaffi met the young king of Toro, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru, and offered to help his kingdom. Oyo appointed Gadaffi his adviser.
A month later, King Oyo and his entourage travelled to the Libyan capital Tripoli in a special plane provided by Gadaffi - a visit during which he invited the Libyan leader to his coronation anniversary celebrations.
Indeed, Gadaffi returned to Uganda in July to attend the sixth coronation anniversary of King Oyo at Karuziika Palace in Fort-Portal and was granted the highest honour of the tribe, ‘the defender of the Toro kingdom.’
He travelled with a 250-strong entourage in a convoy which stretched one mile. In other engagements to show fraternity, Gadaffi’s son, Al-Saad Maummar el Gadaffi, led a 90-man contingent of the Libyan football team for a friendly match with the Cranes in early 2000.
In August of the same year, Gadaffi’s daughter, Aisha, flew into the country on a private jet to attend the give-away (kuhingira) of Museveni’s daughter, Natasha, to Edwin Karugire. As a sign of appreciation, the two leaders have also been giving each other medals. On a visit to Libya in October 1998, Museveni received the ‘Al Fatah Medal’, granted to outstanding revolutionaries.
In May 2004, Museveni in turn decorated Gadaffi with Uganda’s highest military medal, The Order of Katonga, for his contribution to the National Resistance Army struggle.
Gadaffi was appreciated by the UPDF as “a great fighter who made immense contribution to the liberation of Uganda as early as June 1981,†Museveni said during the decoration.
Gadaffi, he said, had always been at the forefront when it came to liberating Africa and unifying the continent. Museveni also praised him for helping unite Muslims in Uganda and building for them a mosque in Kampala.
Gadaffi is expected to officially open the multi-million complex on Wednesday.