Kampala, 24 October 2019 – The Embassy of Italy in Kampala, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Uganda Tourism Board has organized a press conference to announce that the “Leonardo Opera Omnia” exhibition will be held in Kampala from the 19th November 2019 to 5th January 2020. The event gathered together members of the press, media, cultural attachés’ of the diplomatic missions, as well as representatives from some of the key partners that have made Leonardo Opera Omnia possible (City Tyres, Equatorial Power, the Italian Trade Agency, Qatar Airways, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Stanbic Bank Uganda and Youma Builders).
Leonardo Opera Omnia is an innovative and ambitious project, born from a collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and RAI (the Italian Public Television), to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci’s death. It aims at sharing the Italian Cultural Heritage by displaying seventeen high definition and true-to-scale reproductions of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpieces. The original paintings are scattered in various locations and museums all over the world. In Kampala, visitors will see them all in one place, here at the Uganda Museum.
It was also the occasion to announce that the Embassy of Italy has offered to give the museum a facelift ahead of the exhibition. The power system will be stabilized and solar panels be installed to ensure outdoor lighting.
The designated Italian Ambassador to Uganda commented: “Leonardo was born in a small village in Tuscany (Italy) but his eclectic creative talent marveled his own era and the ones who followed, with his fame reaching every corner of the globe. Driven by passion for innovative studies, he anticipated many of the great scientific discoveries ahead of his time (from calculators to helicopters, hydrodynamics to solar power), depicting him as the history’s most creative genius”. Ambassador Mazzanti also noted that the inauguration of the exhibition will open the Italian Cultural week (18-24 November 2019). The week that is dedicated to Italian Culture and cuisine will see many exciting events with the participation of a rock band and some chefs, who will come directly from Italy for the occasion.
Commissioner Lyazi Vivian, speaking on behalf of Uganda’s Minister of Tourism, said that, “Uganda was privileged to have been selected as the African country to host this exhibition that is moving around the world. This opportunity is significant and manifests the important relationship that Uganda shares with the people of Italy”.
Mr. Lyazi said that this exhibition was bound to raise the profile of Uganda Museum and indeed Uganda as a heritage destination, adding that it was an opportunity for regional visitors and international tourists to enrich their experience of rare and internationally acclaimed works of art in Uganda.
From Uganda’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Technopreneurship Director Basil Ajer added “The Ministry in partnership with Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities and Embassy of Italy invites all Ugandans, Members International Community, visitors to grace this event and use this opportunity to see and enjoy the entire pictorial corpus of the Artist in one place while enjoying the Italian music band “Ladri di Carrozzelle”, comprised by people with disabilities which bring to Uganda its mission of social inclusion and promotion of “diversity” through music.”
Ms. Claire Mugabi, Marketing Manager at Uganda Tourism Board reiterated the Ministers words, saying that, “The choice for Uganda to be the first to unveil this collection shows our tourism capacity and capability, highlighted with the trust put in us by the Italian ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation as well as the embassy of Italy in Uganda.”
