His Highness the Aga Khan and His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda lay a brick at the Nakawa site to symbolise the foundation stone-laying for the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini Agha Khan IV, the 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailis is to be awarded the Honorary Citizenship of Kampala in recognition of the role of his foundation to the development of the city.
Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a country or a city on a foreign individual considered to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. In countries like Ireland, the title comes with full legal status including the right to reside and vote.
This will be the first time that KCCA is giving out such an award to a reputable figure, according to KCCA acting Director of Public and Corporate Affairs Peter Kauju. He says that the award will be received by the Aga Khan Foundation during celebrations to mark the 60 anniversary of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s ascension to the Ismaili Imamat throne.
The foundation’s engagement in Uganda spans more than 70 years. The foundations portfolio includes investments in businesses, education, media, health, hotels and power generation.
Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the infrastructure and industrial development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development owns the 250MW Bujagali Hydro power Plant constructed at a cost of USD 900 million. The Aga Khan foundation is also building a USD 100 million hospital in Nakawa division, Kampala.
The aim of the foundation, according to the Agha Khan website is to support sustainable development in Uganda with projects that have demonstrable, measurable outcomes in empowering individuals to improve their quality of life.
