Speech
By
Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi, SC. MP
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
At the
Italian National Day
on
2 June 2013
At
6.00 p m
At the Ambassador’s Residence Plot 10, Hill Lane Kololo
Your Excellency Stefano A Dejak and
Mrs Adele Dejak
Invited Guests
Friends of Italy
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Government of Uganda and on my own behalf I wish to
congratulate you and the Italian government on this 2nd day of June
2013 when you celebrate the “Festa della Repubblica”, a day the origin
of which brings sweet and sour memories to the Italian Nationals. I
wish to express my pleasure and appreciation for the invitation you
extended to me to be part of your National day celebrations.
H. E. Ambassador Stefano will bear witness that of recent we have
discovered that Italy and Uganda share a lot in history.
When I visited Rome and Milan last year on a tour to attract Italian
investment in Uganda, I said that Uganda has had a historical
connection with Italy, first through the Missionaries who arrived in
Uganda in the early 19th Century and have since contributed
tremendously in education, health, poverty reduction and strengthening
of religious faith in Uganda.
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Secondly, the Italian Duke of Abruzzi, nephew of Queen Margherita was
the first explorer to achieve the assent to the top of the Rwenzori
Mountains, which was then named after Queen Margherita. Therefore,
our relationship as Countries goes far back in history.
It is amazing to find that even the political history of our two Countries
has some similarities. While Italy celebrates the “Festa della Republica”
to commemorate the institutional referendum of 1946 when, by
universal suffrage, the Italian population voted to become a republic and
deposed the monarchical rule of 85 years; Uganda on the other hand
had its monarchies abolished in 1967 to become a republic. When NRM
came to power in 1986 we resolved that those who cherished their
monarchies should have them back, though we maintained the republic
status for Uganda.
We were more democratic than Italy because the referendum that
ushered in the republican governance in Italy was won at 54 per cent.
The 46 per cent were simply abolished. But for us we said that let us
co-exist and let those that love the Monarchies have them.
As a Country, Uganda is particularly grateful for the various
developmental programs that are financed by the Italian Government.
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Italy has for several years been so much engaged in the development
projects especially in Northern Uganda and Karamoja where the Italian
Government has been involved in health, education and construction
programs.
The Italian Government, through its development cooperation has been
funding projects carried out by over nine Italian NGOs. These include:
AVSI, ALAN,COOPI, ISP, CUAMM, SVI, AISPO, CESVI etc.
I am happy to reveal that since our trip to Italy last year, we have been
receiving several Companies that have picked interest to come and
invest in Uganda
Once again I wish to thank, Your Excellency the Ambassador and the
Italian people for your significant presence in Uganda. I thank you for
the wonderful dinner and wish you all good celebrations.
I thank you.
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