Uganda celebrates UNESCO 70th anniversary (UNESCO@70)

The Director General of UNESCO at the launch of the celebrations to mark seventy years of UNESCO on 31st October 2014 in Paris, urged Member States to participate in the celebrations at national level. In response to the Director General’s call, Uganda organized activities to celebrate UNESCO@70.

Uganda UNESCO@70 activities:
All activities of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (UNATCOM) and of its willing allies from January 2015 were dubbed as “UNESCO@70” activities. The first activities were to sensitize the public at every available opportunity like workshops, seminars and any other public events organized by UNATCOM or partners about the forthcoming UNESCO@70th anniversary. It was also an opportunity to: a) review the impact of UNESCO during its seventy years of existence worldwide but particularly in Uganda b) to foster better understanding of UNESCO in the past and inspire present and future activities and, c) to explain the values, mandate, spirit and activities of UNESCO and UNATCOM.

UNESCO@70 Main Event
The main event to mark UNESCO@70 was held at the Silver Springs Hotel, Kampala. The Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, The Right Honourable Rebecca Kadaga was the chief guest. Over 130 guests representing UNATCOM partners like line Ministries, UN Agencies, Academia, Cultural leaders, Civil Society Organizations and schools attended the event.
In her address, Hon Speaker lauded the strong partnership between Uganda and UNESCO over the past fifty plus years. She toured the exhibition mounted by the UNATCOM, and later launched the ASPnet Schools Best Practices Booklet. Budo Junior School entertained the guests to traditional Ugandan and jazz music.
Professor Eriabu Lugujjo, Vice- Chancellor of Ndejje University delivered a keynote address on the topic Peace and Development through UNESCO’s Fields of Competence. A UNESCO fellowship alumnus also made a presentation on benefits of her training. The event ended with cutting of the 70th anniversary cake.

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