PPU Photo.
By Male Marvin & Aaron Sseruyigo
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for “further strengthening” of relations between Uganda and Israel amid challenges the world is facing, including the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Following Israel’s 72 years of independence, Mr Museveni in a recorded video to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged that the two counties should embark on even stronger ties, which will in turn foster peace, stability and harmony for development.
“I look forward to working closely with you, to further strengthen and enhance the friendly relations and cooperation between Uganda and Israel for the mutual benefits and prosperity of our two countries,” President Museveni said.
“May I, in a special way, take this auspicious occasion to wish your excellency good health, well being and greater success in your noble duty, as you lead Israel to further progress and prosperity despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Please accept your excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration,” he added.
President Museveni has visited Israel twice since coming to power. This very year, the 75-year-old hosted Prime Minister Netanyahu in a landmark visit at State House – Entebbe, revealing that he is “studying” the possibility of Uganda opening an embassy in Jerusalem.
“If a friend says, I want your embassy here, rather than there, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be. We are studying that.” President Museveni said then.
Netanyahu, who just recently assumed the prime minister’s office for a record fifth time, said he wants to begin direct flights from Israel to Uganda, open an Israeli embassy in the country, and collaborate in agriculture, education, and innovation. This was all before the pandemic hit worldwide.
Reuven Rivlin, the incumbent President of Israel says start-ups and research centers are already making important contributions, to the global fight against coronavirus.
The country has multiple major research institutes focused on pursuing coronavirus breakthroughs, which fueled optimism of progress in finding a vaccine.
In addition to the Institute of Biological Research, the Migal Galilee Research Institute in northern Israel, Forbes Magazine reported that the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Ben Gurion University in the Negev, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa are all working on various aspects of antibody, vaccine and testing research.
Together they are collaborating with one another, Israeli medical centers and researchers all around the world.
Although this year’s independence celebrations in Israel were ‘different’, Mr Reuven said, “no virus can keep us from celebrating the miracle of the Jewish and democratic – State of Israel.”
“This crisis has made us feel, more than ever, that we are one family with a shared history, shared values and a shared destiny. This is not the first time we are celebrating [independence] in a time of great challenges. Again and again, we have faced great dangers and threats, but our people’s determination and solidarity allowed us to overcome every challenge, and the State of Israel grew into a strong democracy,” he said. “This same determination and solidarity will allow us to overcome the great challenges of Corona as well.”
In his submission, Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya, Seychelles, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, H.E Oded Joseph commends President Museveni and other African leaders for their friendship with his country.
“I believe it is fair to stay that Israel is a success story, maybe for two to three main reasons: First and foremost, the strong sense of unity and common identity. Although we were in exile for 200 years, spread in so many countries in the world, we managed to return to the single place where we could express our national identity alongside establishing a democratic country. We returned to our natural home land, with already an existing shared language, culture and values,” he said. “Third, innovation has assisted us to confront other challenges namely, scarcity of water, scarcity of natural resources, building an economy based on I-tech.”
“I would like to thank the people of Uganda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya for the partnership, friendship and for your continued support. we cherish them, and do not take them for granted,” he said.
