Entebbe, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Today, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni engaged in discussions with a delegation from Italy at State House Entebbe. The delegation, led by Mr. Mario Savona, Deputy Head of Mission and chargè d’affaires ad interim of Italy in Uganda, included Mr. Fabio Ricci, Deputy Director General of Federunacoma, Mr. Riccardo Zucconi, Director of the Italian Trade Agency, and Ms. Betty Atuhura of the Italian Trade Agency-Kampala office.

During the meeting, Mr. Savona conveyed that Italy’s new Prime Minister, Ms. Giorgia Meloni, aims to strengthen relations with African countries and invited President Museveni to a meeting in Rome at the end of January after the NAM and G-77 Summits. President Museveni expressed his willingness to attend and discussed potential collaboration.

President Museveni highlighted Uganda’s positive relationship with Italy, emphasizing the European country’s historical contributions to Africa’s development. Mr. Savona disclosed Italy’s upcoming Presidency of G-77, where Africa will play a central role, and expressed Italy’s readiness to support Uganda in high-value crop production through agricultural technology.

Mr. Savona revealed plans for a mechanization center in Iganga, offering agricultural machinery to Ugandan farmers. He emphasized Italy’s belief in Uganda’s potential to become a regional food hub and expressed willingness to contribute to increased productivity through the Parish Development Model.

President Museveni welcomed Italy’s support and affirmed Uganda’s capacity for effective collaboration, recognizing Italy’s role as the leading European importer of Ugandan food crops.