Uganda supports the recognition of Palestine

Mar 11, 2008

UGANDA supports Palestine in its liberation struggles, internal affairs minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.

By Joyce Namutebi
and Henry Mukasa

UGANDA supports Palestine in its liberation struggles, internal affairs minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.

“Palestine can count on Uganda and Africa’s support for recognition,” Rugunda told the youth at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.

This was after several delegates attending the Afro-Arab Youth Festival, in reaction to his presentation, called for African unity, equality of races and support for Palestine.

Rugunda explained that African countries support the Palestinian liberation war as part of the unfinished business of the struggle for freedom.

“Afro-Arab cooperation today must build on this foundation,” he said.

Palestine has fought with Israel for more than 30 years over land and a demand for independence.

The minister talked of the link between Arabs and Africans, the challenges they face and the role of the youth in strengthening the relationship and improving the lives of their people.

Rugunda, who heads the Government delegation to the Juba peace talks with the Lord’s Resistance Army, urged the youth to assist colleagues in northern Uganda promote reconciliation in the region.

He said the location of the peace talks in Juba, South Sudan was of great significance to the warm Afro-Arab relations.

“For many years, a protracted conflict pitted a largely Arab north against a black African south,” he noted. Rugunda cited the spread of Islam as an endearing feature of the early interaction between Africans and Arabs.

Security has been beefed up at the conference centre as President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially open the week-long festival today.

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