The Beeb: Hill and Knowlton to "sell" Museveni

Museveni was once the darling of western leaders

Western PR company to sell Uganda

(BBC) The Ugandan government is to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote its image abroad after growing criticism.

Details of the move emerged a day after President Yoweri Museveni released a statement asking foreign donors to respect his country's sovereignty.

The UK recently cancelled £5m ($10m) of aid, saying not enough had been done to establish fair multi-party politics.

A growing number of critical reports have appeared in the western media.

The foreign minister said on Wednesday that the government would be spending about $675,000 to improve their image.

The London-based company, Hill and Knowlton (H & K), will also be working with the government to try and improve relationships with human rights groups like Human Rights Watch.

The PR company itself been criticised in the past for aiding countries like Indonesia and Turkey, whose human rights records have also come under fire.

Since President Museveni came to power 19 years ago, Uganda has operated a unique political system which severely restricted political parties.

The political landscape will soon change, with multi-party elections expected next year.

Critics accuse President Museveni of using these changes to push through other constitutional changes to allow him to run for president again.

Rock star and Aid campaigner Sir Bob Geldof recently accused Mr Museveni of wanting to be president for life.

Urbane Analysis:

'Ole H & K may soon regret this unfortunate assignment - and clearly this hire has made hackles rise over at The Guardian.

Meanwhile, back in Uganda, Parliamentarians say that the expenditure was an illegal use of funds.

The lawyers on this one, it would appear, are bumbling fools.

Hiring H & K is a major gaffe, an outfit already known for attempting "extreme makeover" public relations for tyrants.

Meanwhile, clients (and others) of the New York law firm Hunton & Williams (which has also been retained to represent the Museveni regime) might want to voice their displeasure regarding the firm's involvment in manipulation of the dictator's public image. And if they don't respond, then talk to their clients (no doubt you do business with one or more of them).

If they can try to manipulate us, then it is a two-way street, right? All's fair, as they say...

One can predict that "all the King's horses and all the King's men" will not be able rebuild Museveni's reputation again. And... Museveni will look even more the buffoon for the slick PR spit & polish treatment slathered on him by H & K.

Museveni has clearly lowered his country to "banana republic" status - what sad irony it is that his supporters wave banana leaves.

Note that Museveni's own personal website, recently launched and sporting a passive-aggressive slap to George W (with loving reference to Clinton) is a commercial url, a telling indicator of the President's perception of his role in Ugandan society - given all the evidence of Museveni's plunder of Uganda.