Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views in relation to a matter (details supplied) in Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's aid programme is internationally renowned for its strong focus on the least developed countries in the world, in particular in Africa. The reality for all international donors is that the promotion of sustainable development in some of the poorest countries requires a determined effort to address corruption and weak governance. Corruption affects the lives of the poorest people. Across the aid programme, we are committed to addressing it by improving transparency and accountability, supporting public oversight institutions, promoting parliamentary reform and independent media, and building the capacity of civil society to influence public policy decisions.

Uganda is one of nine priority countries for Irish Aid, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. The Government has followed closely reports on issues of governance and corruption in Uganda and takes account of these issues in the formulation of its aid programme. Through the aid programme, Ireland is supporting a range of specific measures to tackle corruption. We are helping to create robust and independent legal and judicial systems and supporting anti-corruption legislation. We are supporting the reform of public financial management in central and local government, increasing transparency and reducing the opportunities for corruption. We are strengthening the oversight functions of Parliament, the Office of the Auditor General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Uganda Human Rights Commission. Crucially, we are also actively promoting citizen participation in the policy process, through support for civil society organisations and independent media.

It is important to acknowledge the steps taken by Uganda to address the issue of corruption. It has established institutions to improve transparency and accountability, including the Auditor General, the Inspector General of Government, and the Public and Local Government Accounts Committees in Parliament. The legal and institutional framework to combat corruption has also been strengthened. Uganda has signed up to international instruments against corruption. In 2004 the Ugandan Government launched a National Strategy to Combat Corruption and rebuild integrity in public office. These measures are delivering results, but it remains essential that, as donors to Uganda, we continue to monitor the situation very closely, through our Embassy in Kampala and in cooperation with our international partners.

With the assistance of international donors, including Ireland, Uganda has made very significant progress in recent years in improving the lives of its people. For instance, the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS has fallen from 18% in 1992 to 6.4%. Poverty levels have been reduced from 56% in 1992 to 31%. The introduction of free secondary education in 2007 resulted in a 17% increase in enrolments. The number of children attending primary school has increased from 2.4 million in 1996 to over 7.5 million in 2008.

Irish Aid will continue to ensure that the fight against corruption is prioritised, that the harmful effects of corruption on the poor are mitigated, that Ireland's development assistance has maximum direct impact on the lives of the people of Uganda, and that Irish taxpayers' money is safeguarded.