Raymond Baguma
22 September 2008
Kampala — LIBYAN leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi has urged Ugandan traditional leaders to promote his vision of a united African government.
This follows month-long discussions with African cultural leaders whom Gadaffi invited to his country, Libya.
The leaders included King Oyo Nyimba (Toro), Gafabusa Iguru (Bunyoro), Prince John Barigye (Ankole), representatives of the Kyabazinga of Busoga and Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi (Buganda) and others who attended the meeting which coincided with the 39th anniversary of the Al-Fatah revolution.
The revolution was a turning point in the history of Libya as it unified the peoples and created a distinct state. The Toro Kingdom delegation, led by Nyimba, returned from Libya on Sunday.
He arrived aboard a VIP Boeing 707 belonging to the Libyan government, with his entourage comprising Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and ministers.
He was welcomed at the Entebbe military airbase by the Libyan ambassador to Uganda, Abdalla Bujeldain and the Batooro.
Oyo commended the cordial relationship between Toro and Libya, as well as the assistance Gadaffi had extended to his kingdom.
"We discussed having a permanent forum for traditional leaders, which will discuss economic development, culture, environment and health.
"It will also promote good relationships between cultural institutions and governments," Oyo said in a speech read by his foreign affairs minister Phillip Winyi.
Oyo requested Gadaffi to visit Toro and officially open his palace in Fort Portal. The Libyan government funded the construction of the palace.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
