Source: VP Chiwenga expected in Uganda for inauguration ceremony – herald
Mukudzei Chingwere in KAMPALA, Uganda
VICE PRESIDENT Dr Constantino Chiwenga will be representing President Mnangagwa at the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni here on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe is among 35 countries expected for the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony at Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to Uganda Ms Silibaziso Manyonga confirmed the Vice President’s itinerary.
“I am here on behalf of Ambassador Winpeg Moyo, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Kenya and Uganda,” said Ms Manyonga. I am here to welcome the Honourable Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is coming here, where he will represent His Excellency, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, at the inauguration of His Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni, to be held on Tuesday.”
Minister in charge of the Presidency here Ms Milly Babalanda said President Museveni invited delegations from across Africa and beyond. She said by Tuesday last week, 30 delegations had confirmed attendance.
“His Excellency the President also invited 16 of the revolutionary parties across the world, and information from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat indicates that 15 delegations have so far confirmed their attendance,” Ms Babalanda said.
President Museveni, who was the candidate of the ruling NRM party, won the January 15 presidential election with 7 946 772 votes (71,6 percent), according to the Electoral Commission. His closest challenger, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (also known as Bobi Wine) of the National Unity Platform (NUP), got 2 741 238 votes, while Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) came third with 209 039 votes.
The other five contenders — Gen (Retd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation), Frank Bulira (Revolutionary People’s Party), Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party), Mubarak Munyagwa (Common Man’s Party) and Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party) — received less votes than the 275 353 invalid ones.
This week’s swearing-in and inauguration ceremony marks the beginning of President Museveni’s seventh term in office.
Zimbabwe and Uganda are currently exploring avenues for greater economic collaboration following the successful Zimbabwe-Uganda Business Forum held in Harare in March.
The meeting brought together investors, business leaders and policymakers to identify ways to unlock new opportunities in trade, tourism and investment.
The Government believes that the forum is part of broader efforts to strengthen regional integration and deepen economic synergies between Zimbabwe and Uganda.
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