Former US President Barack Obama is finally coming to Uganda this year, organizers of a week-long conference to mark 400 years since the start of slavery against Africans, have confirmed.
The conference, whose theme is ‘400 years since debut of slavery; a renewed people’, will be held in the first week of December. The conference’s vision is ‘emancipation from all forms of racial bondage, starting with the initiation of enslavement of the African people in antiquity to all manner of modern-day slavery generating the enslavement of the mind.’ It is co-organised by the Ankrah Foundation and Bugema University.
According to Daily Monitor, Dr Maxine Ankrah, the head of the Ankrah Foundation, also co-chair of the conference, said the conference aims at creating a new outlook for the African people and the Africans in the Diaspora.
“There is need for a new mindset; this is a beckon call for Africa and Africans to rethink who we are, recover our uniqueness, values and culture,” Dr Ankrah said.
On Mr Obama attending the conference, Dr Ankrah said: “His invitation was officially delivered earlier this week, and he is one of the speakers during the week.”
During the 32nd African Union [AU] Summit breakfast meeting to mark 400th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade, President Museveni’s address centred on Africa’s integration to avert neo-colonial tendencies that would return the continent to such dark days.
“This in my view is an “anti-slavery” conference because for the last 600 years Africans have suffered some form of slavery at every turn,” Museveni said in November 2018.
He added: “From slave trade to colonization into neo-colonialism. Part of this has been driven by lack of financial independence.”
In October 2014, through his Secretary of State John Kerry, Obama is quoted to have said: “East Africa looks to Uganda for leadership”.
This was, however, catalysed by President Museveni’ signing of the anti-gay bill into law.
Obama then made a statement saying the relationship between his country and Uganda would be “complicated” if Museveni signs the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.
Museveni in turn told Obama to stop interfering in the affairs of Uganda, adding he will work with Russia instead of America.
“Russia has worked in Africa since 1917, meaning they have been here for more than 100 years. I want to work with Russia because they don’t mix up their politics with other country’s politics,” Museveni said.
He added: “If you see a person going to another person’s home then you know there is a problem.”
