Written answers

Wednesday, 16 February 2005

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

9:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 164: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the development aid initiatives which are in place in respect of Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5132/05]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland has had an aid programme in Uganda since 1995. According to the UN's 2004 human development index, Uganda remains a poor country where life expectancy is only 45.7 years, only 31% of adults are literate, 48% of the people do not have access to safe water and 44% of the population are below the poverty line.

The programme in Uganda is one of the larger Irish engagements in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme assists in the fields of education, especially primary education; basic health care; improving quality in the area of justice, law and order; assisting the development of three regions under the national plan for decentralisation; on agriculture and production; on the war against HIV/AIDS. The budget for the programme in 2004 was €30.6 million; €32 million has been provided for 2005.

Uganda has made progress in poverty reduction and economic management over the last 18 years. On the political front, the decision to move to a multiparty system and the recent registration of some political parties offer the possibility of greater democratic change in future. However, concerns still remain about some aspects of governance. On the economic front, macroeconomic stability and growth are being maintained, although, mainly resulting from the instability in the north, progress in reducing poverty has slowed and there is evidence that economic benefits are unevenly distributed.

The insecurity in the northern region of Uganda has caused widespread disruption and loss of life. The 17 year old civil conflict, caused by the brutal campaign of the Lord's Resistance Army 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 conflict represents a major challenge to the Ugandan Government, but there are recent indications that it may be entering its final phase. The Ugandan Government has declared a ceasefire in a region in the north so as to allow an agreed intermediary scope to broker a complete cessation of violence and initiate engagement on a negotiated peace. The process is being assisted by a number of donor countries, including Ireland. There is some optimism that progress will be made.

A key incentive to progress is the recent peace agreement between the Government of Sudan, previously a supporter of the Lord's Resistance Army, and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. It is assumed this will impact on the sustainability of the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency and will encourage a reconsideration of its campaign.

The humanitarian situation in northern Uganda remains fragile. In mid-September 2004 members of the donor community in Kampala, led by the Irish Embassy, 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 Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs also visited northern Uganda in late September 2004. Ireland has provided assistance to both the UN world food programme and to Irish and local NGOs for the benefit of the displaced people in the north.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.