Uganda and Cuba celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations which started way back in 1974. The celebrations were held at Uganda Christian University (UCU) main Campus in Mukono Municipality.
The celebrations were presided over by the Vice President of Cuba, Salvador Valdes Mesa who was in Uganda together with other Cuban delegates for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77+China summits.
Salvador appreciated Uganda for the lasting diplomatic relations and the continued support without considering the harsh United States embargo against Cuba.
He commended Uganda and other African countries, which have stood with Cuba using all the necessary means including voting against the US economic embargo on them.
“Initiatives like that and others help break the economic siege against Cuba that has impinged on its relations with other countries. On January 17, the VII African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba concluded in South Africa, which validated this approach and denounced the siege against Cuba, and was attended by several colleagues some of whom are with us today. You have shown us that solidarity cannot be blockaded, that it will remain a symbol of struggle against injustice and the attempts of powerful forces to silence the truth,” he said.
Salvador promised that Cuba will continue playing its part in order to carry on the diplomatic relations with Uganda.
The Cuba government through its Embassy in Uganda led by Ambassador Tania Perez Xiques awarded the certificate of recognition to the National Resistance Movement for its outstanding work within the solidarity movement with Cuba.
Others recognised with certificates included Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities, Judith Alyek, among others including different Ugandan individuals who have over the time contributed to the diplomatic relations of Cuba and Uganda.
The function attracted a number of government agents led by Uganda’s Ambassador to Cuba, Elizabeth Sylvia Musazi, the chairperson Board of Directors of the National Drug Authority, Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, the chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities, Judith Alyek, the chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr. Charles Ayume, a number of people who studied in Cuba, more so medical doctors, among others. Students from different universities were also among the people in attendance.
Dr. Bitekyerezo said he is among the doctors who went through Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 1992 and was taught by the Cuban doctors who caused a lot of difference not only in him alone but also other doctors who went through the university during that reign when Cuban doctors were still under its control.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of Cuba-Uganda diplomatic relations. Cubans taught us how to love our country. We were taught to serve Ugandans without considering where one is posited, be it in town or rural. Therefore, we doctors who were taught by Cuban doctors have a lot of difference,” he said.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology is said to be one of the many things Uganda has benefited from the diplomatic relations with Cuba following its introduction by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his counterpart, the Cuban President, Fidel Castro.
Cuba through the Vice President Salvador awarded the Friendship Medal, awarded by the President of the Republic of Cuba to the Pan-African Movement Uganda Chapter.
Also the 60th Anniversary Seal of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP, was delivered to Professor Celestino Obúa, Alex Maseréka, Fatoumata Touré, the Association of Ugandan Graduates in Cuba and the Pan-African Women’s Organization.
Dr. Eng. Swabri Ali Mukungu, who is among the students who were sent to Cuba by the Ugandan government in 1993 for higher education and offered Structural Engineering, said Africa has very much benefited from Cuba.
“As Ugandans, we have benefitted so much from Cuba, ranging from education, health and military sectors where hundreds of Ugandans have acquired skills from Cuba,” Eng. Mukungu said.
Florence Kintu Tumwine, a former Member of Parliament for Kalungu district, who is among the many Ugandans who studied in Cuba says she graduated from their in 1989 said Ugandans first received specialized treatment from Cuba before India, Germany and other countries which developed in health services of late.
Kintu said Cuba has been a good example from which Uganda should learn from that it has lived within constraints resulting from the US’ economic embargo but it has pushed on for more than 60 years ago.
“If Uganda takes Cuba as an example, it will be in position to stand on its position on the anti-homosexuality law which Parliament passed recently without considering the pressure from the Western countries, after all we are protecting our norms and values,” she said.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Cuba, Elizabeth Sylvia Musazi together with the Cuba’s Ambassador to Uganda, Tania Perez launched the celebrations of the 50 years of Cuba-Uganda diplomatic relations which will be crowned with a grand ceremony in May.
On behalf of Uganda Christian University, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, David Mugawe said the Christian-based University is also optimistic to start benefiting from the Cuba-Uganda relations.
The United States embargo against Cuba prevents US businesses and businesses organized under US law or majority-owned by US citizens, from conducting trade with Cuba interests. It is referred to as the most enduring trade embargo in modern history.
The US first imposed an embargo on the sale of arms to Cuba on March 14, 1958, during the Fulgencio Batista regime. Again on October 19, 1960, almost two years after the Cuban Revolution had led to the deposition of the Batista regime, the US placed an embargo on exports to Cuba except for food and medicine after Cuba nationalized the US-owned Cuban oil refineries without compensation.
On February 7, 1962, the embargo was extended to include almost all exports. The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution every year since 1992 demanding the end of the US economic embargo on Cuba, with the US and Israel being the only nationals to consistently vote against the resolutions.
