Britain's moral suasion on global issues today is peerless. And given that the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair has made 2005 the year to focus on true progress on development and political reform in Africa, all this might be viewed as inevitable - if not painfully inexorable.
Events are moving rapidly in Uganda. Today the British High Commission in Kampala signalled the intent of donor nations with regard to the ruling Museveni regime. Uganda's government budget is largely funded by donor nations - particularly the United Kingdom and the United States. Ireland and Scandinavia are significant secondary funders as well. But they all take their signals from London. The UK seems to be coming down on the side of democracy in Uganda, and is perhaps becoming increasingly responsive to this call from the united Ugandan opposition party - called the Forum for Democratic Change. Read what Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni says in the following story. Is he indicating that he would rather allow Uganda's descent into violence, civil war, and even more atrocious deprivation than already subjected under his despotism - that he would allow that to happen - rather than give up his ruling perquisites of greed and endemic corruption? The news media should be asking Museveni for clarification of his statements. If he means what he says below - then his grip on reality is called into question. The specter of another horrible meltdown in Africa is just too great not to get onto these issues.
Britain Blocks Aid to Uganda
The Monitor (Kampala)
April 29, 2005
Hussein Bogere
Kampala
The British government has withheld about Shs17 billion in aid to Uganda since last month citing concerns about the handling of several aspects of the country's political transition.
A statement from the British High Commission says Britain was also particularly unhappy with the progress made towards establishing a level playing field for parties in the country.
"When our last release of the budget support fell due in March we were concerned by several aspects of the transition, including that insufficient progress had been made towards establishing a fair basis for a multi-party system. We withheld 5 million pounds," the statement signed by Mr Nikesh Mehta, the 2nd Secretary External Political at the British High Commission, Kampala says.
Mehta's statement was in response to calls by the opposition Forum for Democratic Change for donors to freeze aid to Uganda.
FDC was prompted to write to the diplomatic community asking for a freeze on aid after the arrest of two MPs Reagan Okumu and Michael Ocula, a week ago. The two were arrested and charged with the murder of Alfred Bongomin, the LC 3 council chairman of Pabbo sub-county in Gulu in February 2002.
When The Monitor probed further this week about the British government's stand on the FDC request, Mr Mehta said further that the next tranche of aid due in September will also be subject to an assessment.
"Britain provides budget support that is linked to government performance in implementing the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), including governance issues.
The next tranche falls in September when there will be an assessment of performance against an agreed set of indicators (derived from the PEAP) that cover the process of political transition alongside macro-economic and sector policy," the statement said.
After writing, FDC met several officials from several embassies including Denmark, Norway, US, the European Union, Britain, Ireland, among others last Friday.
In their letter FDC requested for a temporary suspension of foreign aid to prove to President Museveni that democracy is the only option and that terror will not be tolerated.
FDC's spokesman Mr Wafula Oguttu told The Monitor last Monday that the diplomatic community was hesitant to freeze aid to Uganda abruptly because it had a moral obligation towards the people of Uganda.
He said donors pledged to cut aid to a bare minimum in the next budget. The donors contribute more than 52% to Uganda's budget.
As the former colonial power with the longest association with Kampala, Britain's actions towards Uganda tends to guide other donors in assessing their relationship with the country.
The donors have increasingly come out to criticise several aspects of the transition including the proposed constitutional amendments especially about lifting of presidential term limits to allow a third term for President Yoweri Museveni.
They have also criticised the need for a referendum, which would cost about Shs 30 billion yet both sides, the government and the opposition, are going to campaign for the same thing - allowing multipartyism.
The president has on several occasions shot back at the donors' interest in the country's politics. Museveni at one time told a donors meeting in Kampala on May 16 2001 that he would not entertain them meddling into his government affairs.
He warned that Africa is witnessing conflict, but could unite and fight [donors] "like we fought" the colonialists.
"I don't know why you want to recreate all this tension all the time. So much of this arrogance, I find very annoying. It should not be there. I advise you against it," Museveni warned, adding that he could afford to reject donor handouts.
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