U.S. State Department on Uganda: "Human Rights Record Remained Poor... Serious Problems..."

Last week the U.S. State Department released "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004" - here is the report on Uganda, which is alarming.

The United States has made enormous investment in Uganda, as have several European nations. The U.S. Agency for International Development compound in Kampala is almost as busy a container cargo "port" as the Maersk Logistics yard there. And some reports have indicated that almost half of the cash required to run Uganda's government ministries comes from the checkbook of Uncle Sam.

The U.S. Embassy in Kampala is comparable to a community college campus in the States - albeit with additional necessary security. All of this attention is not without purpose: Uganda occupies a strategic position in the heart of Africa - surrounded on three sides by a "tough neighborhood" of countries that are virtual failed states. Rwanda, Congo and Sudan have enormous issues related to war, famine and genocide. Uganda's role has been to succeed, even flourish, as a way of shining a bright beacon of hope and provide direction to the aspirations of neighboring countries.

Uganda's undoing has been corruption. Too many government officials looking for a quick buck. Containers pilfered by customs workers. Always a higher tax, fee or "service charge" for any interaction required with government. And high government officials interested only in cash from donor nations and organizations - ignoring in-kind grants and communication aimed at accountability.

Beyond the frustrations experienced by donor nations and organizations, is the treatment of the political oppositon, the State Department report indicates:

For groups legally authorized to operate, permits were not required for public meetings; however, groups were required to notify the police prior to such gatherings. Police denied permission to hold public rallies to several opposition political groups during the year and, on several occasions, disrupted or forcibly dispersed opposition meetings and other events. Security forces arrested and detained opposition members.

Mainstream political opposition groups, including the FDC, the Democratic Party (DP), and the UPC, generally complied with government restrictions to hold meetings only in enclosed spaces; however, the ruling Movement had frequent public demonstrations in support of President Museveni and his efforts to eliminate presidential term limits.

It is time to shine some light on the situation in Uganda - a small but strategically important country - where success fulcrums on the aspirations of the people versus the attitude of corrupt cronies who now have the upper hand.