Kutesa Receives EU Envoy’s Credentials as Sudanese Ambassador Ends Duty

The newly appointed European Union (EU) Head of Delegation in Uganda, H.E. Attilio Pacifici has officially presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa amid commitment on both sides to further relations.

Attilio Pacifici replaces H.E. Kristian Schmidt whose tour of duty ended in July this year. In his remarks during the ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Ambassador Attilio thanked Hon. Kutesa for welcoming him.

He added that he was looking forward to working with the government of Uganda to strengthen relations further between the European Union and the Republic of Uganda. The Ambassador designate said he was glad to be in Uganda again, a country he last visited 25 years ago.

He and Minister Kutesa discussed an array of issues relating to leveraging the European Union market to stir the private sector in Uganda so as to fuel development.

Kutesa congratulated Mr. Attilio Pacifici on his new appointment in Uganda.

Attilio has over 25 years career experience as a permanent staff member of the European Commission mainly focusing on African Affairs. He worked as the European Union Ambassador to Liberia from November 2009 to December 2014.

Prior to his current appointment, he worked as a senior advisor to the Managing Director European External Action Services for Africa at the European Union Head Quarters in Brussels.

On the same day, Minister Kutesa also bade farewell to the outgoing Sudanese envoy in Uganda, H.E Abdelbagi Hamad Kabeir who has served in that capacity since March 2015.

Minister Kutesa thanked Ambassador Kabeir for his contribution towards improving working relations between Sudan and Uganda, particularly for the mutual interest both countries have had in regional stability through Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Kabeir equally commended the good working relations with the government of Uganda and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notable among them a historic visit of President Yoweri Museveni to the Republic of Sudan after a period of almost two decades.