Government to offer Buganda Kingdom diplomacy training

By Moses Kidandi

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Training in Diplomatic, Etiquette, Protocol and Related matters with Buganda Kingdom at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters Kampala.

The Memorandum of Understanding formalized and strengthened the relationship that has existed between the Ministry and Kingdom for a long time.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Affairs, Amb Patrick Mugoya in his remarks intimated that the MOU was the beginning of a new level of Cooperation with the Kingdom of Buganda. He noted that the Ministry would identify other areas of cooperation with the Kingdom, and assured them of the Ministry‘s continuous support and willingness to build on the existing co-operation.

Oweek. Amb Emmanuel Ssendaula , 1st Deputy Katikikiro of Buganda expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for formalizing relations with the Kingdom and informed the meeting that the Kingdom of Buganda was appreciative of the various times the Ministry has worked with the kingdom on strengthening its Institutional capacity and that of its staff in proper protocol and diplomatic etiquette.

He further thanked the Ministry for facilitating the Kingdoms Jubilee (Jubileo) celebrations with Protocol services in regard to hosting the Asantehene, Otumfuo NanaOsei Tutu II, the 16th King of the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana, who was the guest of honor at the Buganda Kingdom Jubilee celebrations.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, both sides agreed to jointly to Provide a Framework through which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide training to the officials and staff of the Kingdom of Buganda, to Build capacity of the Buganda Kingdom’s institutions engaged in managing public affairs,to Provide Diplomatic support to the official Missions executed by His Majesty the Kabaka, the Katikikiro of Buganda and other high-ranking Kingdom officials and personalities and to Provide protocol support to the Kingdom’s activities involving His Excellency the President, other high-ranking government officials, diplomats and foreign dignitaries.

The MOU was signed by Amb Patrick Mugoya, Permanent Secretary on behalf of Foreign Affairs and by Oweek Noah Kiyimba, Minister of information and Protocol on behalf of Buganda Kingdom.