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Success of the Italian Cultural and Culinary Week in Uganda 2018

Under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, the Embassy of Italy organized the Italian Cultural and Culinary week in Uganda from the 19th to the 24th November 2018. Several gastronomic, cinematographic, educational and musical events attracted thousands of people – among them local Authorities, Italian nationals and international community, local societies and media.

The program was opened on Monday 19 November 2018, with a Gala dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala during which the week long activities were presented and the Guest of Honor of the week, the Italian Chef Fabio Bongianni (#FabiolousCookingDay), was introduced. The screening of an Italian film Stai Lontana Da Me, directed by Alessio Maria Federici, was very successful.

A Raffle Draw with the first prize being a return air ticket to Italy offered by Qatar Airways was also launched during the course of the same evening. The proceeds of the raffle ticket sales were donated to “Project Able +” (a scheme for the prevention of Burkitt’s Lymphoma, childhood cancer most prevalent in Uganda) implemented by the Italian NGO Afron – Oncology for Africa Onlus, an organization that for nearly a decade has been focusing on the prevention and treatment of cancer in women and children in Africa and Northern Uganda.

The function was also attended by Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Tourism.

Tuesday 20th November 2018: the programme visited the children of a school in Bwaise II Parish (the biggest slum in Kampala), managed by the Ugandan NGO AFFCAD – Action For Fundamental Change And Development. The Embassy, in collaboration with the Cultural Association of Italians in Uganda (CAIU), organized a reading and storytelling activities with the children (#FiabeDiRiso) at the School and distributed educational materials, games and clothes to the children.

Wednesday 21st November 2018: the Italian Cultural and Culinary Week shifted to Rhino Refugee Camp (that hosts more than 100.000 refugees, mostly from South Sudan) in the Northern District of Arua. In collaboration with the Italian NGO ACAV, a number of activities in favour of the refugees and the local communities hosting them took place: Italian cooking class with Chef Fabio Bongianni using local ingredients, readings and story tales for children (#FiabeDiRiso), projection of Italian films, the inauguration of a primary school built by ACAV, distribution of professional kits to the young refugees that attended courses organized by the Italian NGO. The event ended with an Italian collective lunch offered to the 2500 refugees. This was the most salient event of the entire Italian Cultural and Culinary Week 2018.

Thursday 22nd November 2018: the Embassy of Italy, in collaboration with CAIU and the Honorary Consulate of the Swiss Confederation, screened the Italian film La Mossa del Pinguino, directed by Claudio Amendola, at 7 Hills International School in Kololo. Throughout the event, attended by about 150 people, there was Italian food and wine for sale.

Friday 23rd November 2018: the Ambassador of Italy hosted a Dinner Buffet at his residence during which dishes prepared by Chef Fabio Bongianni in collaboration with the Italian Restaurant in Kampala LINOVE were served. The evening was entertained by live Italian music. Towards its end raffle tickets were drawn from the lottery and the 25 prizes distributed.

Saturday 24th November 2018: two parallel activities, organized by the Embassy of Italy in collaboration with CAIU took place:

– at Ambrosoli International School: readings and storytelling (#FiabeDiRiso) for children of the Italian community in Uganda;

– at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala: Chef Fabio Bongianni conducted a master cooking class (#FabiolousCookingDay) for 25 people.

All the proceeds of the event were donated to the above mentioned Project ABLE +.

The Embassy sincerely thanks all the below mentioned Partners of the event, without whom it would not have been possible to organize the activities:

ACAV, AFFCAD, AFRON Oncologia per l’Africa Onlus, Al Thuraya Consultancy, Areg Agrofood, Bayimba, Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, CAIU,Capital FM, Cheesvi, City Tyres, Consolato Onorario della Confederazione Elvetica, Dad’s Delights, DiVino, Draco Ug Ltd, Fabiolous Cooking Day, Inspire Africa, Ital Aluminium Ug Ltd, KK Security, Linove, NBS, Property Services Limited, Qatar Airways, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Sobetra International, Stirling Civil Engineering Ltd, Uganda Jungle Lodges, 7 Hills International School.

A special thanks goes to Chef Fabio Bongianni for gracing us with his presence and for his enthusiasm during the activities.

For further information:

– Album

Sheraton Dinner Gala

AFFCAD Day

Rhino Camp Day

Film Day

Residence Reception

Culinary Course – Sheraton Hotel

– Media

Media Links