I represented H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda at the 18th Coronation Anniversary of the Isaabaruli Mwogezi Mwatyansozi in Nakasongola. Here’s the message that I delivered to Isaabaruli and the subjects;
His Royal Highness, Isaabaruli Mwogezi Mwatyansozi;
Omwikirwaku;
All Baruli-Banyala;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the Government of Republic of Uganda, I would like to congratulate His Royal Highness, Isaabaruli Mwogezi Mwatyansozi, upon reaching this 18th Coronation Anniversary. I also congratulate all the people of Buruuli upon celebrating this great day.
I thank the Almighty God for keeping His Royal Highness and the members of the Royal family in good health. I wish His Royal Highness the Isaabaruli more fruitful years, as he steers Buruuli Kingdom to even greater heights.
Iam always delighted to see the people of Buruuli Kingdom expressing their wonderful culture at such functions. Today’s celebration is proof theat the NRM Government took a step in the right direction, to restore cultural institutions, in 1994 and to create new ones, for those communities that so wished. This decision was aimed at jealously guarding our culture from negative foreign influences.
I want to thank the adminstration of Buruuli Kingdom for working towards preserving the culture, norms and the language of the Baruuli. The National Resistance Movement recognises the role of cultural institions in preserving the rich cultures and languages of all Ugandans.
As Africans, we need to be aware of thenegative aspects of foreign influences which pause a threat to our time-tested native values. Our children must be protected againstlifesyles and practices which undermine our survival and existence.
I commend Buruuli Kingdom for maintaining a cordial relationship with the NRM Government. I also thank the people of Burruli for their continued support towards the NRM Government and for upholding peace and tranquility.
I want to use this opportunity to re-echo the message of wealth creation at the household level. By prioritizing expenditure on electricity, roads, schools, hospitals, peace and security, the visionary leadership of the NRM Government has established a solid foundation for Uganda’s development and socio-economic transformation.
However, development alone is not enough; though it must come first. Development is a collective good for everyone; but wealth and jobs belong to individuals, families, groups or companies. We should not have spectators in the drive towards increasing the household incomes, to make sure we eliminate the 39% of the households, which are still engaged in subsistence farming, i.e. working only for the stomach.
The four major sectors for creating wealth and jobs are commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Services and ICT. Therefore, I call upon the leadership of Buruuli Kingdomto mobilise the communities participate in the wealth creation drive and to guide our people to identify productive ventures in the above sectors.
I, once again, congratulate His Royal Highness, Isaabaruli Mwogezi Mwatyansozi, upon his 18th Coronation Anniversary and wish you all happy celebrations.
I thank you.
Last week, I visited Uganda Management Institute and met with top management led by Director General, Dr. James Nkata. We discussed a number of things but majorly the candidature of the institute’s Finance and Administration Director, Dr. John Nakabago as President of AAPAM. AAPAM is the African Association for Public Administration and Management, a premier international organization that promotes best practice and excellence in Public Administration and Management. Dr. Nakabago is the acting President following the passing on of the reigning president.
Uganda being at the helm of an entity like AAPAM means a lot for us. It not only sells the country for the right reasons amidst lots of negative publicity by the enemies of this government but also allows for productive lobbying. Being influential in major international platforms means we can easily deliberate for some major events to be held here and this puts us in the spotlight, brings in money and many other advantages of hosting foreign dignitaries.
While I served as the mayor of Hoima Municipality, I was privileged to be a member of the Global Parliament of Mayors and later moved on to be elected Vice President of the body. The fact that I was Ugandan and in the spotlight of all these city mayors from around the world got me answering frequent questions about Uganda to a whole lot of people and selling the country’s highs including our rich tourism potential.
Involvement of government and its entities in International platforms opens up the foreign world’s eyes about us. It is a gateway for bilateral business, institutional partnerships, and investment opportunities. Where there are chances for leadership like the one we have now at AAPAM, we need to throw in all our weight and grab them. A win for one of us is a win for the whole country. My experience with international engagements is that the camp most represented usually takes up positions of power. This is why we need to get involved and mobilize Ugandans to join international forums.
The Ministry of Public Service will fully support Dr. Nakabago in his bid for AAPAM Presidency which is in full line with Public Service. It will not be the first time to lead AAPAM in case we win this time; Dr. John Mitala is a past president of the organization. UMI as an institution is already doing a lot in its internationalization strategy. Among others, the institution, which is government owned, is building capacity for government officials in Liberia, South Sudan and Somalia. One of its own being at the helm of an international Professional Body will mean quite a lot for the institution and the country at large.
As we seek to support Dr. John Nakabago, I am therefore calling upon more Ugandans to join international bodies; leadership, governance, business or political but for the good of selling Uganda more. Ugandans are an excellent lot and the outside world has to know about that and more.