Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

10:00 am

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings held and matters discussed on his recent visit to Uganda; his priorities regarding that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29642/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I visited Uganda from 27-30 June. The key objectives of my trip were to visit Irish Aid funded development projects and programmes, and to strengthen Irish-Ugandan bilateral and trade relations. Uganda is one of nine priority countries for the Government's aid programme. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 157 out of 182 countries on the UN's Human Development Index.

During my visit I met with 10 Government Ministers including Prime Minister Nsibambi and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Education, to discuss political and development issues. Discussions focussed on key governance issues, human rights, economic and social development and the prospects for the economy in the light of the development of major oil and gas fields. I also had valuable discussions with the Ugandan Human Rights Commissioner and we reviewed both the progress which Uganda has made in human rights and the undoubted challenges that remain. I also met with the Inspector General of Police in relation to assistance that has been requested in community policing from the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

During my visit, I launched our new Country Strategy for Uganda (2010-2014) which sets out our priorities for the next few years. The Country Strategy has a strong focus on reducing chronic poverty among some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Uganda. Key areas of support will be: HIV and AIDS activities, education, gender, strengthening good governance, private sector development and support for Karamoja, which is one of the poorest and most marginalised regions in Uganda.

In line with the priorities set out in our Country Strategy, I visited the Karamoja region with Mrs. Janet Museveni, Minister of State for Karamoja and First Lady of Uganda, to officially launch Ireland's new programme of assistance for that region. To date, Irish Aid has helped to rehabilitate 11 primary schools and 2 teacher training colleges in Karamoja which has created some 2,000 additional student places. In addition, educational bursaries have been provided to 1,000 students. During my visit to the region, I also visited a local secondary school and opened a new wing which has been funded by Irish Aid. I can confirm that Ireland continues to work with the most vulnerable and marginalised in one of the most difficult operating environments in the world.

While in Kampala, I was pleased to open a new Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care, which has been part funded by Irish Aid. I also met with representatives of NGOs and Irish missionaries working on the ground and took the opportunity to thank them for their work, which is a source of great pride to the people of Ireland. Finally, I met with members of the local Irish community and Irish business people who are developing business opportunities in Uganda's growing private sector.

My visit has helped enhance Ireland's bilateral and trade relations with Uganda, which is one of our key partner countries in Africa and one in which there has been enormous progress in the last 25 years. It also provided me with an opportunity to see at first hand the real difference Ireland's development assistance programme is making to the lives of ordinary people in Uganda, and to reaffirm Ireland's commitment to reducing poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world. It also afforded me an insight into the real potential of Uganda, if its resources are husbanded and managed carefully, to become a middle income country within a generation.

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