QUEEN ELIZABETH NDANI YA UGANDA

Queen Elizabeth



Queen Elizabeth arrives in Uganda

KAMPALA: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Uganda Wednesday ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, on her first visit to the country in more than half a century. The monarch and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, landed at the newly-upgraded Entebbe airport, on the shores of Lake Victoria, amid tight security and media restrictions. The 81-year-old queen was last in Uganda in 1954, long before the East African country -- hosting the Commonwealth's biennial summit for the first time -- acquired its independence from Britain. She was in Kenya when she acceded to the throne in 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI. Uganda has long felt overshadowed by its neighbour Kenya, considered the African jewel of the former British empire. Officials are hoping that the meeting of former colonies -- the largest event ever hosted by Uganda -- will raise the country's profile in the region and help kickstart tourism. Also attending the Commonwealth summit will be the heir to the British throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. It will be Charles's first attendance at a Commonwealth summit, amid speculation that the 53-state organisation is preparing for life after Elizabeth.