The Turkish Embassy in Kampala on Thursday hosted a ceremony marking the dual celebration of the 106th anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Parliament and National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

The celebrations, which featured family-friendly activities and opportunities for community connection, were attended by members of the Turkish community in Uganda.

Turkish Ambassador to Uganda Fatih Ak said that the joy shared on National Sovereignty and Children’s Day is a reminder of the universal values that connect humanity. He emphasised that it is humanity’s duty to protect the rights of children everywhere.

Following his speech, the ambassador symbolically handed over his seat to 10-year-old Cihangir Özdemir from Ankara.

“I am proud to be in this seat, a beautiful demonstration of the trust and value placed in us, the children,” Özdemir said.

“As future leaders, we will work to build a world of peace, love and justice. Our greatest dream is to advance our country and bring it to the highest levels in science, education, and humanity. We are grateful to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for giving us this beautiful day. We will continue to advance on the path he opened and towards the goal he showed us,” he added.

The event also provided an opportunity for children to take part in fun activities, including painting.

Türkiye’s founding leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, dedicated April 23 to children.