Italian Ambassador Praises UPDF for Enabling Democracy

ENTEBBE. The Italian ambassador to Uganda HE Massimiliano Mazzanti has commended the role of the UPDF in ensuring that Uganda is peaceful. He noted that the peace and security created by the UPDF in the country enables democracy to flourish.

“We enjoy democracy because of your work of defending the country. It is easy to speak but we felt we should donate to the UPDF. This is all because of the special friendship with Gen David Muhoozi and Of course Gen Kainerugaba,” the ambassador said, adding that “In these times of COVID, everyone talks about civilians and we forget about the military.”

The ambassador was speaking at a function at the Dr Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital in Entebbe where he delivered one respirator donated by Leornado Company through the Italian Embassy in Uganda.

The respirator will be used in the management of COVID-19 patients at the Hospital that is managed by Officers of the Special Forces Command (SFC).

In a message delivered by Lt Col McDans Kamugira, the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba appreciated the Italian ambassador for fostering the relations between Uganda and Italy.

“This gift to us proves the depth of the friendship of Uganda and Italy in this time of a deadly global pandemic and under your able leadership, the relationship continues to blossom,” Gen Kainerugaba said in a message delivered for him by Col Kamugira.

READ MORE: Gen Kainerugaba Discusses Security Cooperation with Italian

“We are confident that under your leadership, we shall establish an ever strong military to military relationship. Long live our friendship,” Gen Kainerugaba noted in his message.

The function was presided over by the SFC commander, Maj Gen James Birungi.

Gen Birungi thanked the Italian ambassador noting that he had not only donated to the UPDF but also to Uganda since the hospital treats soldiers and civilians from various parts of the country.

“We thank you for the good relations which we have had for some time now. Thanks for maintaining this relationship and intervening in health care. We can't do anything without health. thank you so much.

The SFC commander added: “As you know, the UPDF is the people’s army and therefore we can't only treat the soldiers without helping the people around us. You have not only donated to the UPDF but to the entire Ugandan population because people from around the country get treated in our hospitals because of the good services we offer.”