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Venezuelan embassy hosts "Defend Democracy" meeting
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The event attracted youth, journalists, and members of the Pan African Movement in Uganda
On August 18, the newly opened Venezuelan Embassy in Kampala hosted a meeting titled "Defend Democracy and Sovereignty: Hands Off Venezuela," following President Nicolas Maduro's re-election in the July 28 polls.
The event attracted youth, journalists, and members of the Pan African Movement in Uganda. Venezuelan Ambassador Fatima Fernandes delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of countering misinformation. "This gathering is crucial in defending our democracy and sovereignty against external forces seeking to destabilize our nation," she said. Ambassador Fernandes also addressed the role of Western media in distorting Venezuela's democratic processes, stating, "The false narratives circulated by some Western media are part of a broader agenda that misrepresents the realities in Venezuela."
Mr. John Ngabirano, National Coordinator of the Pan African Club, Uganda, spoke about his experience as an election observer in Venezuela, challenging negative portrayals of the election. "Despite the social media narratives, the situation in Venezuela was calm during and after the polls, with people exercising their democratic rights peacefully," he said.
The meeting concluded with strong expressions of solidarity with Venezuela. Journalist Frank Kamuntu voiced the group's shared sentiment: "We stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their right to self-determination."
The event also underscored deepening diplomatic ties between Uganda and Venezuela. In a letter dated July 31, 2024, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni congratulated President Maduro on his re-election, reaffirming the strong bilateral relations between the two nations. "Uganda and Venezuela enjoy brotherly and cordial relations, which we must harness further for mutual development and prosperity," Museveni wrote.
