Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Gandhi Heritage Center would be built in Uganda’s Jinja. The area already has a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. PM Modi is on a three day nation in Africa, he first visited Rwanda and now Uganda. The PM’s last stop will be in South Africa for the BRICS Summit.
Addressing the Ugandan Parliament, Mr. Modi said, “And, at the sacred site in Jinja, where a statue of Gandhiji now stands, we will build a Gandhi Heritage Centre.” He further added, “As we approach the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, there can be no better homage than a Centre to remind us of Africa’s role in shaping his mission.”
Modi went on to highlight the link between the Indian freedom struggle and Africa. He was quoted as saying, “The story of India’s own freedom struggle is intimately linked to Africa. It is not just the 21 years that Gandhiji spent in Africa or the First Non Cooperation Movement he led.”
He further added, “We stood firm in opposition to apartheid in South Africa. We took leading and bold positions in former Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, in Guinea Bassau, Angola and Namibia.”
The PM also stated how India and Africa were on a threshold to greatness. He said, “India’s principled support to Africa’s liberation movements often came at a cost to our nation’s trade. This mattered nothing in comparison to Africa’s freedom. Today, India and Africa stand on the threshold of a future of great promise: As confident, secure, youthful, innovative, and dynamic people.”
During his visit in Rwanda, Modi gifted 200 cows to villagers under the Rwandan Government’s Girinka Program.
The presenting of cows was held at the Rweru Model village along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Under the program the Government gifts the poorest villager a cow. The villager must then gift the first female calf to a neighbor to promote brotherhood.
PM Modi appreciated the program and President Kagame’s initiative. Modi also stated the initiative will help transform the villages in Rwanda. The program was set up due to the alarmingly high rate of childhood malnutrition. The gifting of cows was a way to accelerate poverty reduction and integrate livestock.
