President Yoweri Museveni has highly commended the visiting Barcelona Legends former footballers, currently in Uganda, for their contribution in enabling Uganda expose her tourism potential and unique natural assets to 400 million viewers worldwide.
Speaking at a State Dinner that he hosted at State House, Entebbe last evening in the Legends’ honour together with their Uganda Cranes’ Legends counterparts, the President warmly welcomed the team to Uganda and informed them that in all the travels he has made in most parts of the world, there is no place that is as good as Uganda in terms of climate
Mr. Museveni wholly commended the idea of Mr. Louis Garcia, one of the Barcelona Legends, to start a Sports Academy in Uganda to tap into the potentials of the youth in in the country, as sports is so vital for the youth. The President also thanked the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Uganda Tourism Board for the efforts made in publicizing Uganda’s assets to the wider world saying that this would go a long way in benefitting the tourism sector.
The President wished the Barcelona Legends a good game when they meet their Uganda Cranes’ Legends counterparts in a friendly encounter later today in Mandela National Stadium Namboole. During the dinner Mr. Museveni handed certificates to the Barcelona Legends team in recognition of their having trekked the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in South Western Uganda. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) Chairman, Mr. James Tumusiime, thanked the President for hosting the dinner and for the support he has always given the tourism industry in the country.
Barcelona Legends Captain, Mr. Patrick Stephan Kluivert, while thanking the President for the honour, said they are all committed to working with the Ugandan team to promote tourism and sports in the country. Deputy Chief Justice, Steven Kavuma, Cabinet Ministers, Head of Public Service, John Mitala, Commander of Defence Forces, Gen. Katumba Wamala, British High Commissioner, Alison Blackburne and representatives of the business community, were at the dinner
Meanwhile, one of the legends handed Shirt 7 to the president:
"I now know Barcelona, now that you have come here; I'm not very literate about European club football because I was diverted to do some other work at an early age, though I was very interested in the game at an early age," Museveni said after he had been presented a Barcelona jersey (shirt No.7) with his name inscribed on, by Barcelona Legends captain Patrick Kluivert.
Source: State House Uganda
