KAMPALA- On Friday, July 12, the French Community and their guests had great celebrations of the Bastille Day which was hosted at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Nakasero.
This was no ordinary day and the invitation could tell because of the prior communication and the reminders as the day got closer.
At 6: 00pm, the gates were opened to the guests had a majestic walk to the photo booth and the red carpet then later to the reception area.
Welcome drinks ushered in the guests and this was not shot of wine as you aware that France and wines are highly inseparable and off course their cuisine and other assortments.
The tables were decorated with small flags of France and Olympics since they will be hosted in Paris later in the month of 26th July – 8th August and then after the Paralympic ones.
For the guests, it was the right ambience for connection, networking and catching up with new people.
In his welcoming Remarks, the French Ambassador, H.E Sticker said that every year, on Bastille Day, they celebrate their illustrious revolution, the first steps of representative democracy, the end of the absolutism of the kings and the beginning of the march towards the Republic.
“As well as celebrating our revolution, we are also celebrating the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the values enshrined in the famous Republican motto, “liberté, égalité, fraternité”. We are proud of these ideas, which the revolutionaries of 1789 disseminated and helped to germinate elsewhere in the world.
May they remain the compass that guides us, including in our own democratic life. This year, I’m adding another motto to our “liberté, égalité, fraternité”: “plus vite, plus haut, plus fort” (faster, higher, and stronger). This is the motto of the Olympic Games, reintroduced in 1896 by the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin after a two-thousand-year hiatus. Paris hosted the Olympic Games in 1924.
One hundred years later, Paris is preparing to host them a second time this summer, from 26th July to 8th August for the Olympic Games and from 28th August to 8th September for the Paralympic Games. Our eyes will be on Paris and our hearts will be in unison as we watch athletes from all over the world perform and surpass their limits during this global celebration of sport. May the best win! Welcome to the Paris Games, on site or on your screens.
Honorable Minister of State for Sport, I wish the Ugandan sportsmen and women who have qualified an abundant harvest of medals” Added Sticker.
He also noted that every year in French embassies, Bastille Day is the day when they have the pleasure of welcoming their closest partners and taking stock with them of what they have achieved together over the past year.
Sticker informed them that early in July, the Kampala Business Club officially became the French Chamber of Commerce in Uganda with 63 both French and Ugandan companies were members and they will benefit from all the services offered by the chamber of commerce to further strengthen economic relations between our two countries.
The auspicious event had Rt. Hon Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament as the Chief guest who thanked the French for their continuous collaboration with Ugandans in the very many areas of the of the economy that span across the country.
He also promised his support when contacted so that the economic, social, development ties of both countries can move to the next level.
After all the protocols, the guests were advised to stay longer enjoy and have fun until later with great entertainment from the band and the DJ Music.
Since it was a beginning of the weekend, the some guests got on stage to have a blast and dance off the week.
