Kampala, Uganda – The stage is set for a major regional integration milestone as Dr. Ronex Tendo Kisembo, CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Maj. Gen. Marco Elisha Gaguti, the newly appointed High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to Uganda, at the Mission Offices in Nakasero on Tuesday.
The meeting marked a significant step in cementing cultural and historical ties between the two nations, as Dr. Kisembo briefed the High Commissioner on the eagerly anticipated 3rd Edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari. The pilgrimage, scheduled for 1st–20th October 2026, will honor the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the founding father of Tanzania and a key architect of East African unity.
In a symbolic gesture of shared heritage, Dr. Kisembo also presented H.E. Maj. Gen. Gaguti with a copy of the Afrika Mashariki Fest Silver Jubilee Anniversary Publication. This commemorative publication is dedicated to Mwalimu Nyerere and the East African Community (EAC). It notably features a foreword penned by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who has been widely recognized as a champion of the revived EAC.
H.E. Maj. Gen. Gaguti, who recently presented his credentials to President Museveni, warmly received the briefing and reaffirmed his commitment to the ideals of regional integration. He pledged to journey with the Afrika Mashariki Fest team to Butiama and expressed a strong desire for continued collaboration on all initiatives aimed at promoting the East African Community.
"On behalf of Afrika Mashariki Fest, we welcome him to Uganda—The Pearl of Africa," said Dr. Kisembo. "His Excellency’s commitment to working with us on these regional integration promotional initiatives is a testament to the strong bonds between Uganda and Tanzania, and his presence will surely elevate the spirit of the pilgrimage."
