The ceremony was opened by Councillor Ray Ellis, Executive Member for Rural Affairs for Hampshire Country Council, who welcomed everyone and talked about the commitment of both Parks to ensure that the Project was a success.
Moses Mapesa, Executive Director of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority, talked about the Queen Elizabeth National Park and how the Twinning Project would benefit the Rangers and local Community.
Steve Peach one of the Project's Coordinators did a short presentation explained how the Project came about and how it would work in the future, after which Portsmouth Football Club's Community Team presented Charles Etoru (also of the Project's Coordinators) with a Portsmouth Football shirt.
The Club also pledged to become involved in the Project over the longer term and would try to use football to involve young people.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presence of children from Herne Junior School in Petersfield, who read letters of introduction and gave them to Tom Okello, Queen Elizabeth National Park's Chief Warden who promised to pass them on to school children within the Park.
It is hoped that this will be the start of educational and cultural exchanges between the two communities.