Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Monday.
The meeting, lasting approximately 25 minutes, involved discussions on various topics, as revealed by Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
During their conversation, the Pope expressed his admiration for the generous reception provided by Ugandan institutions to migrants and refugees, not only from Africa but also from Central Asian countries.
Uganda is currently home to around 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, with a significant number originating from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi, according to the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR.
Symbolic Gestures of Peace
In the spirit of customary exchange, Pope Francis and Prime Minister Nabbanja presented each other with symbolic gifts.
The Pope gifted a bronze statue representing a dove carrying an olive branch in its beak, symbolizing peace. The statue bore the inscription: “Be messengers of peace.”
Additionally, Pope Francis offered Ms. Nabbanja copies of several significant papal documents, including the Pope’s message for the current year’s World Day of Peace, the Document on Human Fraternity, and a book on the Statio Orbis on 27 March 2020, published by the Vatican’s Publishing House.
