CLOSING SPEECH BY THE HON. MINISTER OF STATE FOR ANIMAL INDUSTRY, HONOURABLE
MAJOR BRIGHT RWAMIRAMA AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE EAST AFRICAN TECHNICAL
WORKSHOP 13TH - 15TH AUGUST 2008 HOTEL AFRICANA, KAMPALA, UGANDA
The Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union
The Head of Delegation, European Union, Uganda
The Director AU-IBAR,
Representatives of FAO, WHO Regional Offices, EAC, IGAD
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my pleasure to officiate at the closing of the Technical workshop of the Support
Programme to Integrated National Action Plans against avian and human influenza
(SPINAP). I would like to particularly thank the Director of the Inter-African Bureau of Animal
Resources of the African Union (AU-IBAR), Dr. Ahmed Abdou Ali Elsawalhy for selecting
Uganda to host this Regional Technical Workshop the first of its kind in the Region.
Distinguished Participants
I understand that the workshop has brought together key actors of the SPINAP programme
from 14 countries in the Eastern Africa Region and representatives of the Regional Economic
Communities, UN technical agencies, donor community, research institutions, international
experts and professionals from some of the infected countries in Africa. I am also aware that
for the last three days you have discussed and shared experience and best practices in the
fight against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Although Uganda is currently free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, the government
regards the outputs of this meeting as important inputs for reviewing and formulating
national policies and strategies against this disease.
Distinguished Participants
I am happy to note that the SPINAP project will provide technical and financial support to
establish mechanisms for emergency preparedness for avian and human influenza. The
programme has come timely because preparedness is key in averting the Highly Pathogenic
Avian Influenza epidemic that would have disastrous consequences for the co