Overview:
The Ugandan night in Rabat was a strategy to showcase Uganda to the rest of the world using football diplomacy, the rich Ugandan culture and story-telling opportunities to promote the destination Uganda under the theme-line “Explore Uganda”.
The morning of Sunday, 28th December 2025 was rather silent given the chilly-cum-wet weather conditions across Rabat city and many towns of Morocco.
I kept indoors for long spells of the day, finishing up a few write ups on Kawowo Sports website accruing from the on-going 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football championship.
By 2:00 pm (local time), I was ready to depart the El Fath apartment for an 18 kilometre drive towards the lavish Villa Soraya, on the outskirts of Rabat city.
With the Indrive App, I applied for the ride that cost me 100 Morocco Dirams (about 39,000 Uganda Shillings).
I was well on time for the merry making at Villa Soraya where the “Ugandan Night in Rabat” was to be held.
Warm ushered me inside the Villa Soraya hotel, thanks to the fire –warming area with burning timber.
This event was organized by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) in conjunction with the Ministry of Wildlife, Tourism and Antiquities alongside the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
Invites were not only limited to Ugandans; but also, nationalities from South Sudan, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco and the United Kingdom attended.
No sooner had I entered the main room where the part was to be held, than I felt Ugandan.
The aroma of the Kanyonyi Coffee packs saturated across the well decorated hall that also had Uganda traditional artifacts ranging from the Mountain Gorilla pieces, drums, pots, branded table mats, flash disks, calabashes, omweso game board, literature (about Uganda’s geography, transport network, history, hotels, tourism and historical sites) and the treasured Black-Yello-Red national flag, among others.
Ugandan music was played aloud throughout the party-time with a mixture of the melodies from the invited countries.
It was a memorable night where I got the opportunity to meet the different Ugandans in Morocco, particularily staying in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Fez and other cities.
It was a strategy to showcase Uganda to the rest of the world using football diplomacy, the rich Ugandan culture and story-telling opportunities to promote the destination Uganda under the theme-line “Explore Uganda”.
The night’s host Allan Darren Kyeyune brought the house to order with the national anthem played before self introductions from everyone of the persons invited.
From these introductions, many people appreciated motherland Uganda and a couple of guests who have never stepped foot in this East African nation christened as the “Pearl of Africa” confirmed visiting reservations in the nearest future.
The guest list was rich and the state minister for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities in Uganda Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka was chief, flanked by the directors in the Uganda Tourism Board, marketer Francis Nyende and other officials.
“We thank FUFA for putting up the bid to host AFCON and the Government for supporting financially. I say thanks to the Uganda Tourism Board for the job well done for this showcase” Minister Bahinduka remarked as he urged FUFA to tour around the Uganda Cranes in the different national parks.
FUFA president Hon. Moses Magogo led the football family that had delegates, executive committee members, staff, fans and journalists.
“Uganda is a beautiful country and it has the Garden of Eden with the source of the longest River (Nile), the biggest fresh water lake, Rwenzori mountains and the animals closest to the human beings in Uganda. We make an appeal that please come to the Garden of Eden in East Africa. We have a lot of food, hospitable people and live in the summer and winter seasons in different areas.” Hon. Magogo stated.
The night was marked by a sumptuous dinner and dances were the best performers earned prizes and money.
The night continued until departure at leisure. UTB, the tourism ministry, FUFA and Uganda scored abundantly.
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