Uganda-Libya relations strong â€" Govt
RELATIONS between Uganda and Libya are still strong, a statement from the foreign affairs ministry has said.
By Barbara Among
RELATIONS between Uganda and Libya are still strong, a statement from the foreign affairs ministry has said.
“Relations, especially between President Yoweri Museveni and the leader of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Col. Muammar Gadaffi, remain strong,†the statement issued yesterday read.
Citing high level exchange of visits and the increasing Libyan investments in Uganda, the statement shows that the two countries continue to work closely in the energy, banking, real estate sectors, and religious and cultural cooperation.
Libya’s economic interests in Uganda are significant and continue to grow. These include investment in uganda telecom, the former Lake Victoria Hotel, now Libya Hotel, and the National Housing and Construction Corporation.
The statement, which was meant to reaffirm Uganda’s commitment to maintaining cordial relations with Libya, comes after press reports over the cancellation of a meeting of kings that was due in Kampala a fortnight ago.
The meeting was scheduled to start on January 14, as a follow-up to a traditional leader’s assembly in Benghazi Libya that crowned Gaddafi “King of Kings†last August.
About 200 kings, princes, sultans, sheikhs and traditional leaders were expected to attend, the organisers said.
The forum was initiated by Gadaffi at his 39th anniversary in 2008.
But the ministry said the forum, would contravene the Constitution.
Chapter 16, Paragraph 3 (e) of the Uganda Constitution reads: “A person shall not, while remaining a traditional leader or cultural leader, join or participate in partisan politics.â€
Said the statement: “Inviting kings and chiefs who are not recognised in their respective countries to discuss political issues here would have raised controversy and could undermine security and stability in the Great Lakes.â€
Ugandan cultural leaders were also slated to attend.
The statement said: “The Government is obliged to respect the Constitution at all times and to also adhere to the principles enshrined in the 2006 Nairobi Pact.â€
The pact is about peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes.
“It is therefore, unfortunate that some elements in the media have misinterpreted the Government decision not to allow the conference to take place, to imply deterioration in the otherwise excellent relations between Libya and Uganda, without considering the reasons that were given to all media houses,†it read.
The ministry also announced that the foreign affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, last week received the Libyan ambassador, Abdalla Bujeldain, who delivered a congratulatory message from Gadaffi to President Museveni on the forthcoming 23 anniversary of the National Resistance Movement.
Gadaffi is widely seen as a strong advocate for establishment of the African Union formation.
RELATIONS between Uganda and Libya are still strong, a statement from the foreign affairs ministry has said.
“Relations, especially between President Yoweri Museveni and the leader of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Col. Muammar Gadaffi, remain strong,†the statement issued yesterday read.
Citing high level exchange of visits and the increasing Libyan investments in Uganda, the statement shows that the two countries continue to work closely in the energy, banking, real estate sectors, and religious and cultural cooperation.
Libya’s economic interests in Uganda are significant and continue to grow. These include investment in uganda telecom, the former Lake Victoria Hotel, now Libya Hotel, and the National Housing and Construction Corporation.
The statement, which was meant to reaffirm Uganda’s commitment to maintaining cordial relations with Libya, comes after press reports over the cancellation of a meeting of kings that was due in Kampala a fortnight ago.
The meeting was scheduled to start on January 14, as a follow-up to a traditional leader’s assembly in Benghazi Libya that crowned Gaddafi “King of Kings†last August.
About 200 kings, princes, sultans, sheikhs and traditional leaders were expected to attend, the organisers said.
The forum was initiated by Gadaffi at his 39th anniversary in 2008.
But the ministry said the forum, would contravene the Constitution.
Chapter 16, Paragraph 3 (e) of the Uganda Constitution reads: “A person shall not, while remaining a traditional leader or cultural leader, join or participate in partisan politics.â€
Said the statement: “Inviting kings and chiefs who are not recognised in their respective countries to discuss political issues here would have raised controversy and could undermine security and stability in the Great Lakes.â€
Ugandan cultural leaders were also slated to attend.
The statement said: “The Government is obliged to respect the Constitution at all times and to also adhere to the principles enshrined in the 2006 Nairobi Pact.â€
The pact is about peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes.
“It is therefore, unfortunate that some elements in the media have misinterpreted the Government decision not to allow the conference to take place, to imply deterioration in the otherwise excellent relations between Libya and Uganda, without considering the reasons that were given to all media houses,†it read.
The ministry also announced that the foreign affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, last week received the Libyan ambassador, Abdalla Bujeldain, who delivered a congratulatory message from Gadaffi to President Museveni on the forthcoming 23 anniversary of the National Resistance Movement.
Gadaffi is widely seen as a strong advocate for establishment of the African Union formation.