Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to East Africa
Thursday, 23 August 2007
In a day filled with anticipation and emotion, murids gathered at the Darkhana Jamatkhana of Kampala, for the Golden Jubilee Darbar. On this occasion, Yusuf Karmali, President of the Ismaili Council for Uganda, submitted a loyalty address on behalf of the Jamat.
After 12 days, Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to East Africa drew to a close. Leaders of the Ugandan Jamat gathered at Entebbe airport to bid farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam, after an inspiring, joyous and historic Golden Jubilee visit to East Africa.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Situated in Munyonyo, the awe-inspiring lakeside location of the future Aga Khan Academy, Kampala, provided a picturesque venue for the foundation stone-laying ceremony that Mawlana Hazar Imam attended this morning, together with His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda, and other dignitaries. Amongst the guests that Mawlana Hazar Imam met were the donor of the site on which the school will be built, Uganda’s world champion of the 3000-metre steeplechase, as well as other high achievers and athletes from Uganda.
 Mawlana Hazar Imam speaks at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Aga Khan Academy, Kampala in the presence of His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda, and Niaz Hirani, Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Services, Uganda. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte |
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Arriving by helicopter, Mawlana Hazar Imam began the day in Jinja (some 80 kilometres from the capital, Kampala) at the site of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Bujagali Hydroelectric Power Project. The Imam was joined by his brother, Prince Amyn, and his son, Prince Rahim, for a colourful ceremony set on the banks of the Nile and officiated by His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda.
 Mawlana Hazar Imam with His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Bujagali Hydropower Project, Jinja. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte |
 Traditional dancers welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam upon his arrival in Entebbe. Photo: AKDN/Zahir Rehemtulla |
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Ismailimail 
A full 21 months on we still remember this visit with goose-bumps, as Kampala was the only place where the didar occurred in the jamatkhana itself. Imagine the electricity as after hours of dhikar, OBMHI entered the prayer hall amid a rising chant of the salwaat. Unfortunately the reception at Entebbe was less than felicitous as only the Mayor of Kampala could be mustered to meet MHI at the airport. Debate still rages why this happened – or rather why the President couldn’t take a 15-minute drive from his mansion to the airport. The Ismaili Anthem wasn’t played and some people thought the gyrating traditional dancers somewhat embarrassing. Khair. In the end it’s the didar that counts.
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