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Kadaga praises Aga Khan for preserving culture
Left to right: AKDN official Alnoor Maherali, Ismaili Council for Ontario President Sheherazade Hirji and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga at AKM Patrons Lounge in Canada on July 10. COURTESY PHOTO
KAMPALA- The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has praised the Aga Khan for preserving works of history and art at a time culture and heritage are being destroyed in other parts of the world.
Speaker Kadaga made the comments during a tour of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada.
Uganda’s High Commissioner there, Ms Joy Ruth Acheng, accompanied the Speaker and other high-level Ugandan officials on a tour of the museum, which is an initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
“During the visit, the Speaker (Kadaga) noted that while so much culture and history are being destroyed, it is commendable to see His Highness’ efforts at restoring and preserving works of history and art,” a statement issued by the Aga Khan Development Network reads in part.
It adds: “The Aga Khan’s hope is that the museum will also be a centre of education and of learning, and that it will act as a catalyst for mutual understanding and tolerance.”
The Uganda delegation was informed that the Aga Khan Museum was conceived to offer “unique insights and perspectives into Islamic civilisations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together”.
This aspiration has led to the opening of The Aga Khan Centre in London, the British capital. The Aga Khan and the Prince of Wales inaugurated the centre on June 20, 2018 and it will serve as a place of education, knowledge, cultural exchange and insight into Muslim civilisation.
The Prince of Wales highlighted the importance of understanding the intellectual and cultural contributions that Islamic civilisations have made to the world.
The Ugandan delegation and senior officials, during their interactions last week, underlined the importance of the longstanding tradition of mutual cooperation and understanding between Uganda and the Aga Khan.
Amin Mawji, the diplomatic representative at Aga Khan Development Network, said the Aga Khan and his grandfather have been involved in development work in East Africa for more than a century.
“The National Theatre in Kampala is an early example of a cultural development programme supported by the present Aga Khan’s grandfather who also founded the Aga Khan Schools, Diamond Trust Bank, and Jubilee Insurance, amongst other projects” he said.
