President Yoweri Museveni has received Camilo Guevara, son of the legendary Ernesto Che Guevara who was a major figure in the Cuban and other revolutions.
Camilo Guevara, who made a courtesy call on the President on Friday at State House, Entebbe, was accompanied by his wife, Rosa Alizo, the Ambassador of Cuba to Uganda, Antonio Pubillones, and Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The Che Guevara couple is in Uganda for a tourism tour.
Welcoming the couple to Uganda, President Museveni appreciated the role of the late Che Guevara in the fight to transform Cuba.
“We treasure the memory of your father. He was a great hero. Even when he went to Bolivia, I read a whole account of how he protected his dignity and that of the revolution. Some of his ideas eventually succeeded,” he said.
President Museveni received a ‘Teaching Freedom’ monument, on behalf of the people of Uganda, from Camillo Che Guevara showcasing the close relationship between Uganda and Cuba.
Museveni also received portraits of the late Ernesto Che Guevara, a Cuban shirt, and booklets from the visiting delegation.
President Museveni gave to Mr. Camillo Che Guevara books about the liberation struggle of Uganda and the beauty of the country.
Earlier, Camilo had met the Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
“Today, it was my great honour to meet Camilo Guevara, son of the legendary Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara. Mr.Guevara is visiting Uganda along with his wife and delegation,” Gen Kainerugaba tweeted last Thursday evening.
According to available information on the internet, Camilo’s father, Che Guevara is known for his role in the Cuban revolution of 1959, which witnessed Fidel Castro’s removal of Fulgencio Batista as the country’s head of state.
The two first met in Mexico City almost five years earlier, where Che Guevara had moved in 1954.
Having joined Castro’s “26th July Movement”, aimed at seizing power from Batista, Guevara rose to become a key figure in the revolution and was duly appointed as president of the National Bank of Cuba and minister of industry following its success.
Guevara also featured in revolutions from in Africa’s Congo.
Lauded by many, Guevara’s name has become synonymous with revolution and socialism.
His supporters say he was a hero who fought and died for his beliefs and see him as a romantic figure associated with the universal fight for freedom.
Che Guevara was to be executed aged 39 after being captured by US-backed troops in Bolivia in 1967.
His son now aged 57, Camila is believed to have been 5 years when his father was killed.
ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze tweeted: “We welcome them to #BeautifulUganda the #PearlofAfrica. Hope they get off time to explore our great flora & fauna in the countryside.”