Uganda's ambassador to Saudi Arabia starts work

BY AHMED KATEREGGA

Uganda’s new ambassador to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, presented his credentials to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

The ceremony took place in in Deewana Palace, in the port city of Jeddah.

It was attended by the Saudi Crown Prince, HRH Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Suudi Al-Faisal, the Saudi Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al –Sheikh and Dr. Abdurahman Al-Sudais, the Imam of  Holiest mosque, Masjid Haram Mosque in the Islamic holiest city of Makkah Al Mukarrama.

Others in attendance were the Head of the Royal Guards, Hamad Muhammad Al-Awhali, the Saudi Acting Chief of Protocol, Abdulaziz Muhammad Al-Aqiili and close to 2000 officials from the Saudi government and royalty.

In a prepared statement to the King, Dr. Ssemuddu, conveyed warm regards from President Yoweri Museveni to the King.

Ambassador Ssemuddu observed the need to cement ties between the two historic allies through increasing investment and trade flows from Saudi Arabia to Uganda.

As foundational gestures, he requested the King that Saudi Airlines should consider flying to Uganda to facilitate trade between the two countries. He also requested for opportunities for Ugandan professionals to work in Saudi Arabia.

In a move that could boost the country’s tourism industry, the Ambassador requested the Royal family to add Uganda to their itinerary during their annual hunting visits to Tanzania.

Dr. Ssemuddu, who lived in Saudi Arabia for 18 years and is well-versed with Arab culture and their inner workings, stressed that Uganda has potential to export several commodities to Saudi Arabia.

The envoy stressed the need to support Uganda’s human capital through availing of scholarships to Ugandan students from all academic fields. He appealed for technical assistance as well as aid to support critical sectors of Uganda’s economy as a means to spur economic and social development.

Dr. Ssemuddu is yet to present his credentials to the other countries where he is Uganda’s non-resident Ambassador.

These include: the kingdoms of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and the Republic Yemen. He is also Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.