Pádraic McCormack
Question:26 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political situation in Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30027/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
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Uganda's track record in poverty reduction and economic management over the past 18 years stands up favourably to comparison with much of Africa. The country has seen the development of key institutions of governance and earned a good reputation in some areas such as press freedom. The announced intention to move to a multi-party system offers the possibility of greater democratic change in future. However, notwithstanding many positive developments, there are concerns about some current trends in governance. On the economic front, macroeconomics stability is being maintained, although recent trends have indicated a fall in the levels of growth and some inequities in the distribution of its benefits.
Continuing insecurity in the northern region of Uganda has caused widespread disruption and loss of life. The 17-year civil conflict, caused by the brutal campaign of the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, involving atrocities against the civilian population and large-scale abduction of children, intensified in 2003, resulting in a humanitarian crisis with approximately 1.5 million people displaced. The ongoing tragedy represents a major challenge to the Ugandan Government, but there are recent indications that the conflict may be entering its final phase. While the Government is pursuing a military campaign against the LRA, it has also indicated willingness to seek a negotiated settlement and has introduced a successful amnesty process. Some indications have been given recently that the LRA is prepared to enter into peace talks aimed at ending the conflict. In response to these signals, President Museveni announced on 14 November a temporary ceasefire in designated parts of northern Uganda to provide an opportunity for the LRA to consult about entering negotiations with the Government. The donor community in Kampala and in Ireland, has been closely involved in supporting these developments which it is hoped can lead to a permanent ceasefire and peaceful resolution of this conflict.
In the meantime, the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda remains fragile. In mid-September 2004, members of the donor community in Kampala, led by Ireland's Chargé d'Affaires, visited northern Uganda to send a message of solidarity to the people on behalf of the international community and to stress the international community's support for the amnesty process and for dialogue and reconciliation as a way to bring finality to the conflict. The chairman and vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs also visited northern Uganda in late September 2004.
On the domestic political front, Uganda has commenced a process of transition from its current "no party"— but one movement — democratic system to a multi-party system. On 22 September 2004, a White Paper was published on proposals for constitutional change which endorsed the move to multi-party democracy and the necessary changes in legislation required to enable political parties to operate. A referendum will be required to change the constitution and this is expected to take place during 2005. It is hoped that this process will culminate in multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections in 2006. While the move to multi-party democracy is welcome, proposals emerging from some quarters for a change in the Ugandan constitution, which would facilitate a third term by President Museveni, are viewed with concern by donors.
The position of donors, including Ireland, is to continue close engagement with the Ugandan authorities with a view to ensuring that the process of constitutional change and the subsequent elections are transparent and free. It will also be important to ensure that the political space is opened up in sufficient time for an opposition to organise and contest the elections in 2006. An encouraging development in this regard is a ruling by Uganda's constitutional court on 18 November which has cleared the way for political parties in Uganda to take part in the 2006 elections.
Respect for human rights is enshrined in the Ugandan constitution and Uganda has good policies and strong institutions in support of human rights, in particular an active and respected human rights commission. It also has a free press which plays a constructive role in highlighting abuses. An important step to promote press freedom was a ruling by the Supreme Court in February 2004 that journalists could no longer be charged with publication of false news. At the same time, donors are concerned about incidents of torture and illegal detention by security forces in 2003 and have kept the Government under pressure in this respect. In July 2004, the security agencies agreed to work together with the Uganda human rights commission and the director of public prosecutions to fight torture. This is a positive development, although concrete results will have to be awaited.
In response to donor pressure, Uganda established the Porter Judicial Commission of Enquiry into allegations of illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the DRC. The Government has underlined its commitment to following up on the commission's findings and bringing to account those implicated in such activities. While there is still unresolved business, action has been taken against key people whom the commission found to be involved, including the army chief of staff, General Kazini, who was dismissed from his post, and the president's brother, Salim Saleh, who was removed from Parliament. In mid-September 2004, a number of donors, including Ireland, met with President Museveni to stress the need for the Government to reconfirm its political will to fight corruption and act accordingly.
Uganda has also been playing a more constructive role of late in relation to the peace processes in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, and Burundi. An agreement was concluded in Kampala on 26 October 2004 between the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda to establish a tripartite commission aimed at resolving outstanding political and security issues, including completing disarmament of armed groups in eastern DRC with former links to both Rwanda and Uganda. The Ugandan Government has also participated constructively in the preparations for the Great Lakes Conference which took place in Dar-es-Salaam on 19-20 November 2004 and where agreement was reached on a declaration which it is hoped will provide the basis for a regional peace and security pact, to be adopted at a second Summit in 2005.